Media advisory: Political experts can discuss issues surrounding GOP convention

LAWRENCE — As Donald Trump has emerged as the likely Republican nominee for president after a surprise primary victory, GOP delegates will head to Cleveland next week expecting to make it official at the party's national convention.

University of Kansas political experts are available to talk with media about issues surrounding the convention, Trump's nomination, a matchup with Hillary Clinton in the general election and the potential (though seemingly unlikely) effort to nominate another candidate from the convention floor.

William “Bill” Lacy, director of the Dole Institute of Politics, can discuss the upcoming conventions, the nomination process, the possibility of brokered conventions, the importance of the conventions, the campaign leading to this point and the upcoming general elections following both parties' July conventions.

“This is shaping up as the most unique presidential election of my lifetime. I have seen them as a high-level adviser and as an observer, and this one is crazy and completely unpredictable,” Lacy said.

Lacy has been director of the Dole Institute of Politics since 2004 and has played a major role in seven presidential campaigns, including senior roles in former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole’s 1988 and 1996 campaigns, Ronald Reagan’s 1980 and 1984 bids, and George H.W. Bush’s 1988 and 1992 campaigns. He was also President Reagan’s White House political director. In 2007 he took a leave of absence from the institute to manage the presidential campaign of former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn).

During his tenure as director, Lacy has established the Dole Institute as a highly respected venue for bipartisan, philosophically balanced political programming. Under his leadership, the institute has hosted numerous national and international political leaders, including sitting and former heads of state, practitioners and journalists.

To arrange an interview with Lacy, contact Mike Krings at 785-864-8860 or mkrings@ku.edu.

Burdett Loomis, professor of political science, researches Congress, U.S. politics and lobbying. He has edited nine editions of the book "Interest Group Politics," which details various influences on American politics.

"The key things to watch for include whether Trump will stay on message, if the speeches are enthusiastic for Trump or more anti-Clinton, how various factions in the party work things out and which Republican legislators show up to the convention, especially those seeking re-election," he said. "As with everything regarding Trump, we can expect the unexpected."

Patrick Miller, assistant professor of political science, monitors national polling made available and tweets analysis at Twitter.com/pmiller1693. His broad research interests include national politics and attitudes of partisanship.

"Many people will make a big deal out of how many Republican politicians are skipping the convention, so it'll be interesting to see who speaks," Miller said. "But the thing to really look for is whether Trump gets a convention bump and how long it lasts. The public opinion effect will be really key."

To arrange an interview with Loomis or Miller, contact George Diepenbrock at 785-864-8853 or gdiepenbrock@ku.edu.