Experts to comment on virtual Democratic convention, Kamala Harris selection

Voters and political pundits will be watching closely this week as the Democratic National Convention goes virtual and Joe Biden accepts the nomination as his party’s candidate for president. 

The University of Delaware boasts several experts who can talk about the convention’s move online, the politics of gender and race and several other topics related to the election.

Erin Cassese explores the behavior of women as voters and candidates for political office, and studies political psychology, gender stereotypes, public opinion, elections and the intersection of religion and politics.

Vladimir Medenica studies the politics of race and ethnicity, particularly as they relate to the causes and consequences of inequalities in the representation and participation of marginalized groups in American politics.

Lindsay Hoffman can talk about the differences between virtual versus in-person conventions (she attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention). She also studies media technology and politics, including how people use new media to get involved politically; public opinion, specifically how perceptions of public opinion influence attitudes, thinking and behaviors.

David Redlawsk, a political psychologist who studies voter behavior and emotion, focuses on how voters process political information to make their decisions. He has written several books on politics, worked behind the scenes on campaigns and ran for local office.

Paul Brewer can discuss the speakers and polling data. His research focuses on how messages in traditional news, entertainment media and social media shape public opinion about policy issues and public perceptions of science.

Kassra Oskooii focuses on the interplay between the contextual and psychological determinants of political opinions and behaviors of high and low status group members.