Tea Parties, Political Parties

Brian Gaines, University of Illinois professor of political science, explained how political scientists forecast elections (betting markets, aggregate seat-count models, seat-by-seat statistical models, and pundit and polling forecasts) and predicted Republican gains in the U.S. House, toss-up Senate races, and a close Illinois governor's race. He then weighed competing narratives about the Tea Party, citing a UCLA graduate student's photographic study of rally signs. Fall 2010 series "Deconstructing the American Dream." In the Q&A, a man identifying himself as chair of the Champaign Tea Party disputed the racism allegation and described his group's priorities; other questions covered early and absentee voting, candidate promises, the Illinois budget, and Illinois political corruption.