UNH Survey Center's Smith Talks About NH Politics Oct 19

EXETER, NH — University of New Hampshire Professor and Director of the UNH Survey Center, Andrew Smith, will present a free lecture, “Swinging Blue: How a Red State became Purple,” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016, at the Exeter Congregational Church, 21 Front St. in Exeter, according to a press statement. Smith will analyze how New Hampshire, once a reliably red state, has in recent decades become “purple,” electing Democratic governors and splitting its congressional delegation. What are the demographic changes and political issues that have transformed solidly Republican New Hampshire into a political metronome, swinging between the two parties and thereby attracting outsized attention from national candidates? Smith will field questions from the audience at the conclusion of his remarks.

Andrew Smith has more than 20 years experience in academic survey research, currently as director of the UNH Survey Center since 1999, following positions at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Cincinnati. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati and is currently Associate Professor of Practice in Political Science in the UNH Department of Political Science where his teaching and research has focused on survey methodology, elections, and public policy. Smith has been a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research since 1987. He is also a founding member of the Association of Academic Survey Research Organizations. Smith regularly presents at academic conferences on public opinion and political science.

Smith’s talk is presented by We the People, a free lecture and film series exploring issues at the intersection of current events, ethics and religion. We the People is co-sponsored by the Congregational, Episcopal, and Unitarian Universalist churches of Exeter, in association with Phillips Exeter Academy and Water Street Bookstore. The talk will be held at the Congregational Church, which is handicapped-accessible. On-site parking is available.

For more information, go to WTPexeter.weebly.com, or call 603-772-4216.

Submitted by Deborah Kanner.