UF experts available to speak about tonight's presidential debate

September 26, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Two University of Florida political science professors and a professor of telecommunication who specializes in political communication will be available today and tonight to talk about the presidential debate.

GOP nominee John McCain decided this morning to participate in the debate after earlier suspending campaign activities and returning to Washington where Congress and the White House have worked on a compromise on a bailout plan for the financial industry.

Lynda Lee Kaid has been a professor of telecommunications at UF since 2001 where she has taught political communication, political advertising and media coverage of public affairs, among other areas. She has a doctoral degree in speech with a special concentration in political communication from Southern Illinois University. Kaid will be conducting research during tonight’s debate. She can be reached at 352-871-1449, 352-392-7922 or e-mailed at lkaid@jou.ufl.edu

Daniel A. Smith is an associate professor of political science at UF where he has become nationally known as an expert in ballot initiatives around the country. He also has published extensively in the area of the role of special interests and political parties in direct democracy campaigns. He has a doctoral degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin Madison. He can be reached at 352-283-6482 or e-mailed at dasmith@polisci.ufl.edu

Michael T. Heaney has been an assistant professor of political science at UF since 2005. He has a doctoral degree in political science and public policy from the University of Chicago. His current research has included the demonstrations at this year’s national party conventions.