CARBONDALE - Faith and religion have become focal points of discussion in the 2008 presidential election season.

Former Republican candidate Mitt Romney represented the Mormon faith, Republican Mike Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and the public and the media continue to discuss Democratic candidate Barack Obama's Muslim heritage.

Students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and other area residents have the opportunity to hear a firsthand professional analysis of the 2008 election as it pertains to the relationship between faith and politics on Tuesday.

Ray Suarez, renowned broadcast journalist and author of the 2006 book "The Holy Vote: The Politics of Faith in America," will speak on campus as part of a visit sponsored by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and WSIU.

"He's just the kind of person who's highly respected by those in his profession and those outside of it," said Matt Baughman, assistant director of the Institute.

Suarez will likely be a recognizable face to many SIUC students and Southern Illinois residents. He currently serves as a senior correspondent on "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," a leading PBS news program that airs locally on WSIU.

Prior to joining "NewsHour" in 1999, Suarez was the voice behind the call-in news program "Talk of the Nation" on National Public Radio. Students from the northern part of the state might also recognize Suarez from his time with WMAQ-TV in Chicago, Baughman said.

Coming from a journalism background allows Suarez to provide a more unbiased view of American politics than other speakers, such as political chiefs of staff or aides, may provide, Baughman said. When planning its yearly lecture schedules, the Institute staff tries to achieve a balance and wide spectrum of speakers.

In addition to his lecture Tuesday evening, Suarez will also be visiting with students, touring the WSIU newsroom and speaking to a political science class, Baughman said.

Candis Isberner of WSIU and Suarez could not be reached for comment.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

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Hear Suarez Speak

Who: Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" on PBS

Where: SIUC Student Center, Ballroom B

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

There will be a book signing following the lecture.