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News Tip: Experts Available to Comment on VP Picks, Conventions

Republican Convention begins next week, followed by Democratic Convention

The following Duke University experts are available to speak with reporters about the Republican and Democratic conventions, both before and during the events, and vice-president selections.

• Quotes: "For the GOP Convention I will be paying particular attention to two things. First, whether Mr. Trump and his campaign transition to a more presidential tone and demeanor,” says Kerry Haynie, an associate professor of political science at Duke University. 

“Second, I will be interested in how Mr. Trump balances the competing imperatives of reaching out to moderate establishment Republicans, especially women, on the one hand, and consolidating and mobilizing his insurgent base on the other.”

“For the Democratic Convention, I will be watching for attempts to soften Secretary Clinton's image in an effort to address her high negatives among the electorate in terms of trust and likability. She is widely viewed as the more qualified of the two candidates, so her competency and readiness will not be in question. She needs to leave her convention having convinced folk that she is kinder and gentler than they imagined.”

Bio:Kerry Haynie is an associate professor of political science and African and African American Studies, and director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Social Sciences at Duke. His research and teaching interests are in race and ethnic politics, legislative processes, state-level politics, Southern politics and comparative urban politics.http://polisci.duke.edu/people/kerry-l-haynie

• Archive video interview (different subject):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDbcivo5kis

• For more comment, contact Kerry Haynie at:klhaynie@duke.edu

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David Rohde

• Bio:David Rohde is a professor of political science and director of the Political Institutions and Public Choice Program, Duke University. He specializes in American politics, including campaigns and elections, and legislative politics. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, author of "Parties and Leaders in the Post-Reform House" and co-author of a series of books on every national election since 1980.http://polisci.duke.edu/people/david-w-rohde

• Archive video interview (different subject):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMptMoOPRf0

• For more comment, contact David Rohde at:rohde@duke.edu

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Pope "Mac" McCorkle

• Bio:Pope “Mac” McCorkle, an associate professor of the practice at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy, has served as an issues consultant to political candidates, state governments and various organizations for the last two decades. Since starting McCorkle Policy Consulting in 1994, he has worked for state and federal candidates in North Carolina as well as 28 other states.http://sanford.duke.edu/people/faculty/mccorkle-iii-pope

• Archive video interview (different subject): (1:43 mark)http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/n-c-voters-consider-clashing-messages-high-stakes-senate-race/

For additional comment, contact Mac McCorkle at: mac.mccorkle@duke.edu