Arizona State University political scientist Jennifer Steen is an elections expert who worked as a political consultant and was a member of the electoral college. Before participating in a panel to discuss whether Arizona is the front line in American politics, she revealed a nickname and looked into her crystal ball to try to predict the Republican presidential candidate.
Q. You were in politics. Did you ever get called “The Hammer”?
A. No, but I got called “Mean Steen.”
Q. Who’s going to be the GOP nominee for 2012?
A. Somebody who we don’t know yet. We have probably heard his name, but he’s not a candidate at this time.
Q. If you could draw your own electoral district, what shape would it be?
A. Star.
Q. What’s your favorite dessert?
A. Tiramisu.
Q. Will you ever run for office?
A. No.
Q. Do tigers frighten you?
A. Not in general.
Q. Who says the dumbest things about Arizona on a regular basis?
A. Pretty much half the people I knew in Connecticut.
Q. Beatles or Rolling Stones?
A. Beatles.
Q. What’s your favorite musical?
A. “Urinetown.”
Q. What’s your favorite baseball team?
A. Yankees!
*Photo by Felipe Ruiz Acosta.