UMSL political science chair Dave Robertson was a popular source for analysis of last weekend’s second presidential debate. His insights were shared by outlets far outside the St. Louis area, including on New China TV.

St. Louis was at the center of the political world over the weekend as journalists flocked to the site of the season’s second presidential debate of 2016 at Washington University.

Dave Robertson, chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, found himself a popular source for analysis of the town hall debate and its significance in the broader campaign as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battle to become the 45th president of the United States.

Robertson’s insights could be read and heard locally in the pages of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and on St. Louis Public Radio and nightly newscasts on KSDK (Channel 5).

“I think the questioners are going to have to feel that the candidates understood their question and were empathetic in answering what it is they’re so worried about – getting to the worry more than the underlying question,” Robertson said during a special edition of “St. Louis on the Air” previewing the debate on Sunday afternoon on St. Louis Public Radio. “If they take off and attack the other person before they answer that question, I think that’s going to be seen as a real disconnect.”

Robertson also provided analysis on a post-debate show on KSDK’s Facebook page Sunday night.

But his reach on the weekend stretched far beyond the local market. He recorded an interview Sunday for New China TV, the official YouTube Channel of Xinhua News Agency, the official Chinese press organization.

He also spoke to Japanese news agency Kyodo News for a yet-to-be released story and, on Monday morning, appeared live on the “Bayleys Early Edition” on Newstalk ZB, which airs in 25 markets throughout New Zealand and reaches more than 383,000 listeners weekly.

“I gave Hillary Clinton a B for this performance, and I gave Donald Trump a C for this performance,” Robertson told Newstalk ZB. “I don’t think it made any difference at all. I think Trump got his message out, and he continued to strengthen his hold on maybe 40 percent of American voters. That’s not enough to win the election. He’s not expanding his base, and the election every day looks more certain to be for Hillary Clinton.”

Robertson and colleagues David Kimball and Anita Manion from the Department of Political Science will be talking more about the 2016 election – both the presidential race and races for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives – as well as the role gender plays in it at 5 p.m. on Oct. 20 at J.C. Penney Auditorium. The event is presented by the UMSL College of Arts and Sciences and the Hellen and Will Carpenter Series on Contemporary Issues in American Society. There will be a reception preceding the event at 4:30 p.m.

Media coverage:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Public Radio
KSDK (Channel 5)
New China TV