Newswise — AMES, Iowa – David Andersen, an assistant professor of political science at Iowa State University, is an expert on presidential campaigns and voter behavior. Andersen says Trump’s pick for vice president could address some of his weaknesses.

"Selecting Mike Pence as his running mate is the first traditional move Trump has made in this campaign. By choosing a socially conservative, experienced politician, Trump begins to shore up weaknesses in his own credentials, appeal to the Republican base and address concerns from the GOP elite that he doesn't have the political savvy to win the presidency. Most importantly, this seems to be a reflection of new campaign manager Paul Manafort's influence, steering Trump toward a more traditional campaign strategy and away from the ‘Let-Trump-Be-Trump’ style favored under Corey Lewandowski."

To arrange an interview, you can contact Andersen directly at 515-294-6928 or [email protected]. Angie Hunt in the ISU News Service office, 515-294-8986 or [email protected], can also assist with interview requests.