Politics Professor Available to Talk about Impact of Testimony, Methodology Behind Legitimate Polling Operations
02/28/2019
Contact: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
Regardless of whether the public thinks Michael Cohen’s testimony before Congress yesterday is believable, President Trump’s ex-personal lawyer is a player in the “game of attrition” that is weakening the president and embarrassing his allies, according to a political science expert available for interviews on the subject.
“The more the public is focused on investigations around Trump, the less they are focused on his policies. That’s bad for the president and Republicans,” said John Cluverius, associate director of the Center for Public Opinion at UMass Lowell. “Cohen illustrates that Trump’s political troubles go far beyond probes into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Instead, these problems create another avenue for Democrats to bog down the administration in investigations and hearings.”
Cluverius, an authority on polling and elections, can also explain how people can identify legitimate, nonpartisan polling operations from the online surveys Cohen told Congress he manipulated to favor Trump in 2014 and 2015.
“No one should confuse online polls that are conducted by reputable organizations that recruit people from panels and the online polls Mr. Cohen says he hired someone to rig,” Cluverius said.
In addition to his role with the Center for Public Opinion, Cluverius teaches in UMass Lowell’s Political Science Department. Before joining the university, he worked as a political operative for a variety of candidates for elective office and interest groups.
To arrange an in-person or telephone interview with Cluverius, contact Nancy Cicco at 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu.
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