National political reporters tapping expertise of faculty

As the site of the first-in-the-South primaries, South Carolina is quickly becoming the center of the universe for presidential politics.

Candidates and reporters are swarming across the state looking for votes and expert opinions on hot-button issues for South Carolinians to voting patterns of key constituencies.

And that’s where the University of South Carolina comes in.

Not only is the university a faithful index to the fortunes of the state, but University of South Carolina faculty are offering a pretty accurate index of what’s on the mind of voters, the mood of the electorate and all things political.

In addition to having a drop-in for national and statewide reporters Friday, Jan. 18, at the Thomas Cooper Library, the Office of Media Relations is fielding a slew of calls from reporters wanting information, insights and interviews with key faculty experts. Dr. Todd Shaw, assistant professor of political science, has appeared on CNN and National Public Radio and has been featured in news stories by the Associated Press and New York Daily News.

Charles Bierbauer, dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, has been featured on C-SPAN, CNN, FOX-TV, Al Jazeera television and in the Dallas Morning News.

Political science Professor Dr. Blease Graham has been featured in news stories by the Associated Press, Denver Post and Chicago Tribune, and Dr. Laura Woliver, professor of political science and women’s studies, was interviewed by CNN and featured in news stories in the Charlotte Observer and by Women’s E-News.

Dr. Cleveland Sellers has been featured in news stories in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsweek magazine, and Dr. Bobby Donaldson has appeared on FOX-TV and Dr. Walter Edgar on National Public Radio. Former "CBS Evening News" anchor Dan Rather was on campus Tuesday (Jan. 15) to host a live broadcast of his show, "Dan Rather Reports on Politics: The South Carolina Primary."