Rice University presidential expert Paul Brace available to comment on 2013 State of the Union address

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Amy Hodges
713-348-6777
amy.hodges@rice.edu

Rice University presidential expert Paul Brace available to comment on 2013 State of the Union address

HOUSTON — (Feb. 12, 2013) — As President Barack Obama prepares for the first State of the Union address of his second term, Rice University political scientist Paul Brace is available to comment on what can be expected from the speech.

“President Obama’s second inaugural address is probably the best signal for what to expect in his upcoming State of the Union address,” Brace said. “In that address and follow-up remarks, he has advanced gay rights, promoted greater tolerance toward immigrants, advanced preserving the social safety net and advocated greater concern for climate change and the environment. More generally, the president is expected to focus on the economy and to introduce broad initiatives in education, infrastructure, clean energy and manufacturing.”

Brace anticipates that Obama will also focus on stricter gun laws, an issue elevated by the recent tragedy in Newtown, Conn.; and immigration reform, following his election over Mitt Romney with “significant help from more mobilized Hispanics and Asians.”

Brace is the Clarence L. Carter Professor of Political Science at Rice. He is co-author of “Follow the Leader: Opinion Polls and the Modern Presidents,” author of “State Government and Economic Performance” and co-editor of “The Presidency in American Politics” and “American State and Local Politics.” He has published research in the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Journal ofPolitics, Political Research Quarterly, Polity, Social Science Quarterly, American Politics Quarterly, Legislative Studies Quarterly and other journals.

Brace is available for commentary before and after the State of the Union address at 9 p.m. EST Feb. 12. Rice University has a VideoLink ReadyCam TV interview studio capable of transmitting broadcast-quality standard-definition and high-definition video directly to all news media organizations around the world 24/7.

To schedule an interview with Brace, contact Amy Hodges, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at amy.hodges@rice.edu or 713-348-6777.

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Related materials:

Paul Brace bio: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pbrace.

Paul Brace headshot: http://bit.ly/X0UxrO.

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