EAST LANSING, Mich. — With the election less than a year away, Michigan State University has experts who can comment on various facets of local and national politics and elections, including the controversial primaries. Up for election on Nov. 4, 2008, are the presidency, seats in Congress and the Michigan Legislature, judgeships and local and county offices.

Mohammed Ayoob, University Distinguished Professor of international relations at James Madison College. An expert in international security, Ayoob can speak to what the next president and Congress will face in the Middle East.

Charles Ballard, professor of economics. He can discuss a wealth of economic issues, including tax and budget policies, gas prices, Federal Reserve policies and the economic impact of campaigning and elections. He can be reached at (517) 353-2961 or ballard@msu.edu.

Michael Craw, assistant professor at James Madison College. Craw can speak to state and local politics and public policy, urban development and housing, social welfare policy and gay and lesbian politics. He can be reached at (517) 432-2522 or craw@msu.edu.

Matt Grossmann, assistant professor of political science. Grossmann can discuss American political institutions, public opinion and policymaking. Specifically, he can address: interest groups and lobbying; campaign consultants; factions within the political parties; negative advertising; regulation of Internet campaigning; third parties and the two-party system; information technology policy debates; media bias in coverage of politics; and congressional hearings. He can be reached at (517) 355-7655 or matt@mattg.org.

Larry Hembroff, director of the Office for Survey Research at MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). He can discuss presidential political surveys, trends in survey research, Web surveys and focus groups. He can be reached at (517) 353-1763, hembroff@msu.edu.

Brian Kalt, associate professor in the College of Law. An expert on the 2000 Florida recount, Kalt can speak to electoral mechanics: the electoral college, technicalities with it, what happens if things break down.

Benjamin Kleinerman, assistant professor at James Madison College. Kleinerman can discuss national political issues, especially issues centering on the constitutional relations between Congress and the president. He can be reached at (517) 432-1579 or bkleiner@msu.edu.

Mark Kornbluh, professor and chairperson of the Department of History. The author of “Why Americans Stopped Voting,” he can discuss voter participation, primary elections and electoral laws. He can be reached at (517) 355-9300 or kornbluh@msu.edu.

Jon Miller, John A. Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies and director of the International Center for the Advancement of Scientific Literacy. He can discuss the intersection of politics and hot-button scientific issues such as stem cell research and genetic engineering. He can be reached at (517) 432-4286 or jdmiller@msu.edu.

Laura Ann Reese, professor of political science and director of the Global Urban Studies Program. She can discuss urban and local politics, public policy and economic development. She can be reached at (517) 353-5942 or reesela@msu.edu.

Bryan Ritchie, associate professor of international relations at MSU’s James Madison College. He can discuss politics and its relation to the international economy, innovation and bio-based technologies. He can be reached at (517) 353-8614 or ritchieb@msu.edu.

Doug Roberts, director of MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). A former state of Michigan treasurer, Roberts can discuss the economy; fiscal responsibility and tax policy; presidential politics; political strategy; ethics; and K-12 and higher education financing. He can be reached at (517) 353-6672 or douglas.roberts@ssc.msu.edu.

Elliot Spoon, professor in the College of Law. He is an expert in housing legislation issues. Spoon was appointed in early 2008 to the Federal Housing Finance Board, an independent regulatory agency of the executive branch of the U.S. government. The board ensures the Federal Home Loan Banks operate in a safe and sound manner, carry out their housing and community development missions and remain adequately capitalized and able to raise funds in the capital markets.

Bruce Vanden Bergh, professor of advertising. He can speak to advertising issues relating to campaigning and elections. He can be reached at (517) 353-8606 or vanden4@msu.edu.

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