Brian Duff interviewed in New York Times story on New England politics of climate and energy
Brian Duff, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed for a news story that appeared in the online Nov. 1, 2010 that analyzed how the outcome of Maine's gubernatorial election will affect climate and energy issues in New England. The outcome of the race among Republican climate skeptic Paul LePage, Democrat Libby Mitchell and independent candidates, analysts say, could determine the state's role in the nation's only cap-and-trade system, operating in the Northeast. Duff, who noted that polls show that LePage is likely to win, said that Mitchell's frequent mentions of climate change are a smart political strategy, since environmental activism is popular in the state. He said it is a way of reminding voters of a LePage 'weakness' - his former comments about global warming that are contrary to the views of most scientists.