Experts: Wikileaks fallout and Clinton VP choice test party unity

Matthew Wilson
jmwilson@smu.edu

“The WikiLeaks development and Tim Kaine VP pick are a sort of one-two punch for liberals. They may feel marginalized, both by the evidence that the DNC actively conspired against their progressive champion and Clinton’s choice of a relatively centrist, pro-business running mate. Hard-left activists didn’t trust Clinton and the Democratic establishment to begin with, and this won't help. It will be interesting to see if Bernie Sanders himself is actually more forgiving about this than his supporters.”

Matthew Wilson, SMU associate professor of political science, can discuss:

• Religion and politics
• Political psychology
• Public opinion and politics

Rita Kirk
rkirk@smu.edu

“Just as the DNC set its goal to unify the party, the WikiLeaks emails opened old wounds and validated Bernie Sanders’ earlier claims that he didn’t get a fair shake. Meanwhile, as Democrats began gathering in Philadelphia, they were confident that, unlike the Republicans, they would stay on message. The WikiLeaks release has had the effect of raising tensions between Clinton and Sanders supporters and also throw doubts on whether Monday's opening will display the party unity they desired.”

Kirk is at the DNC with a team of SMU student interns who will help conduct focus groups for CNN the evenings of July 27-28.

Kirk, SMU professor of communication studies and director of the Maguire Center for Ethics & Public Responsibility, can discuss:

• Sound-bite substance
• Undecided voters
• Presidential debates
• The use of second screens and social media in politics
• Political communications

Ben Voth
bvoth@smu.edu

“The WikiLeaks revelations underscore cynical manipulation against Sanders in his robust challenge to Clinton’s nomination. That will not only destabilize Clinton’s support among Sanders supporters, but also contribute to an ongoing public malaise about the presidential selection process.”

Voth, SMU’s director of debate and an associate professor of corporate communications and public affairs, can discuss:

• Debate prep, strategy and effectiveness
• Comparisons between this debate season and the 2012 season

Matthew Wilson
jmwilson@smu.edu 

“Republicans and Democrats appear to have very different views of unity and diversity. Republicans promote unity and inclusiveness by avoiding explicit mentions of identity groups, preferring instead to reference to ‘all Americans,’ without calling out specific groups by race, religion, gender, etc. By contrast, Democrats often make targeted appeals to demographic groups, making specific reference to African Americans, Latinos, Muslims, gays, women, etc. – which Republicans see as divisive pandering. It’s like the difference between ‘All Lives Matter’ and ‘Black Lives Matter,’ and it’s fascinating.”

Ben Voth
bvoth@smu.edu 

“Trump’s decision to start super-PACS aimed at [ending the political careers of] Kasich and Cruz is a dramatic attack on his own base. Kasich’s position in Ohio, a swing state, makes that an incredible risk for Trump. It also has opened up a number of surprising appeals to conservatives that they should vote for Hillary.”

Matthew Wilson
jmwilson@smu.edu 

“People have known for years that Hillary Clinton was the likely 2016 Democratic nominee, so there’s not much novelty left to her gender or anything else. But with Clinton’s electoral strategy predicated on a huge gender gap (at least 15 points), I’m sure the ‘first female nominee’ angle will get ample mention at the convention.

One interesting note: During the primaries, gender solidarity appealed much more to older women than younger ones. Women under 40 just didn’t seem all that excited about the idea of a first female president –maybe because they have grown up in an era where a woman’s ability to rise to a high position is largely taken for granted.”