Amy Fried
Co-Director of the Maine SSN Regional Network; Professor of Political Science, University of Maine
Areas of Expertise:
- U.S. Elections
- Media & Public Opinion
- Voting
- Health Care Reform
- Medicare & Medicaid
Connect with Amy
About Amy
Fried teaches and writes about citizens’ political involvements and values, and is currently examining how conservatives promoted distrust in government in the Tea Party age. Several works examine how polling developed and analyze their uses in U.S. politics and society. Fried is a member of the advisory committee for the Maine Community Foundation’s Policy Scholars Program, and works with students researching state-level public policy. As Rising Tide Policy Advocate, a position supported by a National Science Foundation grant, Fried focuses on changing and implementing University of Maine policies on career-life balance and fair and appropriate evaluation.
Briefs
The Huge Benefits of Health Reform for American Women
SSN Basic Facts,
So Far, Divergent Paths for Health Reform in New England
SSN Basic Facts,
As People Learn about Affordable Care, Support Increases
SSN Basic Facts,
The High Stakes for Maine in Fights about the Ryan Budget
SSN Basic Facts,
Distrust in Government as a Political Weapon
SSN Key Findings,
How Progressives Saved Election Day Voter Registration in Maine
SSN Basic Facts,
Podcast
Publications
"The Strategic Promotion of Distrust in Government in the Tea Party Age" (with ). The Forum 13, no. 3 (2015): 417–443.
Argues that distrust in government is not an inadvertent byproduct of economic change, scandals, and cultural and identity politics, but rather grows out of strategic efforts to promote and harness it for political purposes.
"Voting Restriction Politics in Maine" (with ). New England Journal of Political Science 6, no. 2 (2012): 293-333.
Examines the politics and political organizing involved in an effort that restored same-day voter registration in Maine.
"‘Negro Morale,’ the Japanese-American Internment, and U.S. Government Opinion Studies during World War II," American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, September 2011.
Argues that racial bigotry influenced public policy during the New Deal and Second World War. Examines how government studies of African-American shipyard workers, farmers and draftees acknowledged discrimination, yet the suggested means of improving “Negro morale” frequently focused on public relations. Argues that post-Pearl Harbor responses to Japanese-Americans were driven by not just national security concerns, but also bias, hysteria, and economic jealousy.
Muffled Echoes: Oliver North and the Politics of Public Opinion (Columbia University Press, 1997).
Shows how public opinion is used as a political resource and often interpreted in self-serving ways. What the public thinks can be different from what the media and political figures say the public thinks.
"On Red Capes and Charging Bulls: How and Why Conservative Politicians and Interest Groups Promoted Public Anger" (with ), in What is It about Government that Americans Dislike?, edited by John R. Hibbing and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse (Cambridge University Press, 2001), 157-174.
Distrust in government has been cultivated by Republicans to help them win office, achieve their policy goals, give power to the institutions they control, and glean support for party and conservative movement organizations.
"The Personalization of Collective Memory: The Smithsonian’s September 11 Exhibit" Political Communication 23, no. 4 (2006): 387-406.
Shows how hard it was to go beyond personal and nationalistic themes to probe what led up to and followed the terrorist attacks of September 11.
"Maine’s Political Warriors: Senators Snowe and Collins, Congressional Moderates in a Partisan Era" (with ). New England Journal of Political Science 4, no. 1 (2010): 95-129.
Argues that American politics has become more polarized, yet through the first two years of the Obama presidency, Maine’s U.S. Senators took a different path. Discusses how the traditions of this small state provide a model for more substantive and civil politics.
Pathways to Polling: Crisis, Cooperation, and the Making of Public Opinion Professions (Routledge Press, 2011).
Relationships among market researchers, candidates, political parties, media audience analysts, government officials, academics, and journalists helped polling to take hold (even after the fiasco of mistakenly predicting that Dewey would beat Truman in 1948). Their cooperation and competition shaped how polls are used today.
In the News
Amy Fried's research on public opinion discussed in . Amy Fried (with ), "The Selling Of Judge Brett Kavanaugh," Huffington Post, July 21, 2018.
Amy Fried's research on Court nominations discussed in . Amy Fried, "Two Republican Women Could Sink Trump's US Supreme Court Pick," AFP, July 11, 2018.
"As Maine Goes ... So Goes the Way Americans Vote?," Amy Fried (with ), The American Prospect, June 22, 2018.
Amy Fried quoted in Colin Woodard, "How Ranked-Choice Voting Effort Became a Partisan Flash Point" Sun Journal, April 7, 2018.
"Why Republican Tax Cuts Aren't What Americans Want," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, December 12, 2017.
Amy Fried quoted on defending Obamacare in Gabrielle Gurley, "How Maine’s Medicaid Expansion Campaign Got to Yes" The American Prospect, November 13, 2017.
"As a Campaign Manager Faces Charges, the Trump-Nixon Parallel Gets Stronger," Amy Fried, Vox, November 1, 2017.
Amy Fried quoted on expanding Medicaid in Mara Lee, "Maine Residents Hope Ballot Box Will Do What Legislators Couldn't: Expand Medicaid to More Low-Income Adults" Modern Healthcare, September 9, 2017.
"How Maine People Moved Senator Collins and Stopped Trumpcare," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, August 8, 2017.
"Creating Obamacare Wasn’t a Picnic. Repeal Can’t be, Either.," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, January 10, 2017.
Guest to discuss the marijuana legalization campaign on Maine Public Radio, Amy Fried, September 26, 2016.
Amy Fried quoted on disaffected Democrats in Bonnie Washuk, "Johnson Will Draw Votes from Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump" Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal, August 18, 2016.
Guest to discuss the Democratic National Convention on Maine Public Radio, Amy Fried, August 1, 2016.
"Closing an Incredible Convention, Clinton Can Tap Profound Moments of Her Life and Campaign," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, July 28, 2016.
Amy Fried quoted on support for Clinton v. Sanders in Doug Johnson Hatlem, "Hillary Clinton vs Bernie Sanders: In-depth Report on Exit Polling and Election Fraud Allegations" Counter Punch, May 11, 2016.
"The End of the Presidential Nomination Fights is Closer than You Think," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, February 23, 2016.
Amy Fried quoted on limiting the financial assets of welfare recipients in Roberto A. Ferdman, "Maine Has Found a Stunning Way to Keep the Poor in Poverty" The Washington Post, October 1, 2015.
"Fewer than a Third Approve of LePage. Does That Matter?," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, October 16, 2015.
Amy Fried quoted on Hillary's campaign strategy in Joe Lawler, "Hillary Clinton Bringing Small-scale Campaign Event to Portland" Portland Press Herlad, September 17, 2015.
"Three Key Reasons Why Trump is Actually Getting More Likely to Win Nomination," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, August 19, 2015.
Amy Fried quoted on the Tea Party in Katharine Q. Seelye, "Maine Court Considers Vetoes by Gov. LePage" New York Times, July 31, 2015.
"How Maine Showed Marriage Means the Same to Everyone," Amy Fried (with ), Bangor Daily News, July 2, 2015.
Amy Fried quoted on Maine's politics in Katharine Q. Seelye, "Combative Maine Governor Becomes a Party of One" New York Times, June 28, 2015.
"How Straight People Finally Realized That Gay Couples ‘Respect’ Marriage," Amy Fried (with ), Talking Points Memo, June 26, 2015.
"How a Maine Tea Party Battle Predicted ObamaCare's Future," Amy Fried, Talking Points Memo Café, June 25, 2015.
Amy Fried quoted on midterm elections in Steve Fuller, "Political Pundit Provides Post-Election Analysis to Local Democrats" The Ellsworth American, November 26, 2014.
Amy Fried quoted on the 2014 gubernatorial elections in Paul Demko, "What Tuesday's Elections Mean for Healthcare" Modern Healthcare, November 3, 2014.
Amy Fried quoted on the dynamics of the Maine gubernatorial race in Katharine Q. Seelye, "Outspoken Governor Tries to Squeak By in 3-Way Maine Race" New York Times, October 18, 2014.
"Seven Questions and Answers about Today’s ObamaCare Decisions," Amy Fried, Pollways, Bangor Daily News, July 22, 2014.
"Fiddling with Figures Doesn’t Add Jobs to Maine’s Economy," Amy Fried, Pollways, Bangor Daily News, July 8, 2014.
"Medicaid Expansion is Very Popular, Except When Lied About," Amy Fried, Pollways, Bangor Daily News, March 26, 2014.
"The Affordable Care Act - Women's History in the Making," Amy Fried (with ), Huffington Post, March 23, 2014.
"No, Kristof, Academics Aren't Cloistered Like 'Medieval Monks'," Amy Fried (with ), Talking Points Memo, February 17, 2014.
"Seven Reasons Why Democrats Won't Delay the Affordable Care Act," Amy Fried, Pollways, Bangor Daily News, September 29, 2013.
"Who Needs Health Insurance? How Does That Work, Anyway?," Amy Fried, Pollways, Bangor Daily News, August 13, 2013.
"When Sick, You Need More Than Family, Community Support," Amy Fried, Pollways, Bangor Daily News, March 26, 2013.
"(Some) Republicans Can't Believe Their Own Eyes as Obama Wins Again," Amy Fried, Bangor Daily News, November 7, 2012.
Amy Fried quoted on the negative effects of Paul Ryan's budget plan, "Paul Ryan's Relatives Didn't Live Past 60, Why Should Yours?" The Huffington Post, August 11, 2012.
Amy Fried quoted on 2012 elections - Maine Senate Washington Post, June 11, 2012.
Regular contributionsAmy Fried to Politico Arena.
Guest to discuss Campaign Polls and Ads on Maine Watch with Jennifer Rooks, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, Amy Fried, October 7, 2010.
"Polls Playing Bigger Role in Campaigns, for Better or Worse," Amy Fried, Interview with Josie Huang, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, November 4, 2010.
"Thirteen Years Later, Republicans are Still the Impeachment Party," Amy Fried, Salon, July 17, 2011.