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Center for Politics Announces Release of “Pendulum Swing”

Today the University of Virginia Center for Politics released its latest book, Pendulum Swing, drawing on the collective wisdom of nearly two dozen of the nation’s top political analysts, journalists, and academics for comprehensive analysis of the 2010 midterm elections and the subsequent policy implications. As President Barack Obama makes his first address to the 112th Congress, this timely publication by Center for Politics Director Larry Sabato and a national team of contributing experts delves into the overlooked details of the 2010 elections. Looking back at the titanic political shift in Washington, DC and around the nation, the authors explore how that shift could affect the 2012 presidential election. The book is the newest in an ongoing annual election series developed by the Center for Politics and published by Pearson/Longman publishers (www.pearsonhighered.com).

“The 2010 midterm election was one of the most significant in modern American history. The voters spoke emphatically and what they said will have great consequences for years to come. This is an election that deserves extensive treatment, and that is what we have tried to deliver in Pendulum Swing,” Sabato said.

Separating political myth from reality, Pendulum Swing tackles topics such as the Tea Party, campaign finance, health care, the economy, the role of the media, each party’s political strategies, and how those factors contributed to the Republican wave last November.

Contributing authors include:

Dr. Alan Abramowitz, Alben W. Barkley Professor of Political Science at Emory University and senior columnist for Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball”

Rhodes Cook, Editor of the Rhodes Cook Letter and senior columnist for Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball”

Dr. Thad Beyle, Thomas J. Pearsall Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina

Isaac Wood, Director of Communications at U.Va.’s Center for Politics and Editor of the “Crystal Ball”

Dr. Michael Cornfield, The Michael Cornfield Company; Adjunct Professor of Political Management, The George Washington and George Mason University

Michael Toner, Former Chairman of the FEC; currently Head of the Election Law and Government Ethics Practice at Bryan Cave LLP

Dr. Diana Owen, Associate Professor of Communication, Culture, and Technology at Georgetown University

Dr. Jack Pitney, Crocker Professor of Politics at Claremont McKenna College

Dr. Seth Masket, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Denver

Dr. Sam Hoff, George Washington Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Delaware State University

Dr. Susan MacManus, Distinguished Professor of Government and Int’l Affairs at the University of South Florida

Dr. Paul Green, Arthur Rubloff Professor of Policy Studies at Roosevelt University

Brian Howey, Editor of Howey Politics Indiana

Dr. Caroline Tolbert, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa

with assistance from: Amanda Keller, graduate student at Univ. of Iowa

Dr. Laurie Rhodebeck, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville

Dr. Paul Herrnson, Director of the Center for American Politics and Citizenship; and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at the University of Maryland College Park

Dr. Thomas Schaller, Professor of Political Science at the University of Maryland Baltimore County

Dr. Agnes Bain, Professor of Government at Suffolk University

Dr. Michael Traugott, Professor of Communication Studies; and Research Professor at the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan

Jo Mannies, Senior political reporter at the St. Louis Beacon

Jon Ralston, Political columnist at the Las Vegas Sun and host of the TV program “Face to Face with Jon Ralston”

Dr. Dante Scala, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire

Dr. Jeffrey Stonecash, Maxwell Professor of Political Science at Syracuse University

Jonathan Riskind, Washington Bureau Chief of the Columbus Dispatch

Joe Hallett, Senior Editor of the Columbus Dispatch

Dr. G. Terry Madonna, Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs; and Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College

Steve Peoples, Former political reporter for the Providence Journal; now National Political Reporter for Roll Call

John O’Connor, Political columnist at The State newspaper

Jay Root, Political reporter at the Associated Press