Students watch debate
Gillian Ekern
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: News
The mood was light in Hibbard 310 on Wednesday night as Blugolds for Barack hosted an event for the presidential debates. Posters, buttons and an assortment of food filled the spaces between people as students watched the two presidential hopefuls in their last debate before the election.
Senior Jake Schafer attended the event.
"I guess I liked that (debate) more so than the other ones because the candidates seemed to really answer the questions," he said, adding that he's been bothered with how general the answers to tough questions have been in the past.
Schafer said that he's been supporting Dem. Barack Obama since John McCain received the Republican nomination. He also considers himself liberal.
"I like (Obama's) liberal ideology but I dislike how he appears to sacrifice many of his beliefs to win votes," Schafer said.
After the debate had ended, Schafer believed Obama had beat McCain.
"Obama seemed to have better control of his answers," he said. "John McCain seemed to be slinging mud as usual."
Two floors down, in Hibbard 102, a small class of students watched the same events transpire.
Graduate student Jakob Fabian and junior Brian Stauber were among the students. Stauber considers himself a moderate liberal, but doesn't associate with any particular political party. Fabian considers himself a social democrat.
"I liked the times when both candidates were really discussing the issues," Fabian said. He believed Obama came out on top in the last debate.
Stauber disagreed.
"I felt that John McCain turned up the heat," Stauber said.
However, he thought the two candidates came out even at the end of the debate.
"I think the debates have gotten a dirtier tone," Fabian said. He noted a McCain ad that alluded to a relationship between Obama and terrorist organizations.
"I like Obama's sense of freshness," he said. "When he says something it reminds me of a great leader."
Though a supporter of Obama, Fabian admitted that his views on McCain weren't all negative.
"I think he's a very eligible candidate," he said. "He'd make a fine president."
According to Gallup polls conducted the night after each debate, people surveyed believed Barack Obama beat John McCain in all three debates.
After the first debate, people chose Obama to be the winner over McCain 46 to 34 percent, according to the poll. The second debate saw that gap widen to 56 percent for Obama and 23 percent for McCain. The results from the final debate also showed Obama ahead 56 percent to an improved 30 percent for McCain.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. To find out where to vote go to http://www.uwec.edu/vote.htm/.
Senior Jake Schafer attended the event.
"I guess I liked that (debate) more so than the other ones because the candidates seemed to really answer the questions," he said, adding that he's been bothered with how general the answers to tough questions have been in the past.
Schafer said that he's been supporting Dem. Barack Obama since John McCain received the Republican nomination. He also considers himself liberal.
"I like (Obama's) liberal ideology but I dislike how he appears to sacrifice many of his beliefs to win votes," Schafer said.
After the debate had ended, Schafer believed Obama had beat McCain.
"Obama seemed to have better control of his answers," he said. "John McCain seemed to be slinging mud as usual."
Two floors down, in Hibbard 102, a small class of students watched the same events transpire.
Graduate student Jakob Fabian and junior Brian Stauber were among the students. Stauber considers himself a moderate liberal, but doesn't associate with any particular political party. Fabian considers himself a social democrat.
"I liked the times when both candidates were really discussing the issues," Fabian said. He believed Obama came out on top in the last debate.
Stauber disagreed.
"I felt that John McCain turned up the heat," Stauber said.
However, he thought the two candidates came out even at the end of the debate.
"I think the debates have gotten a dirtier tone," Fabian said. He noted a McCain ad that alluded to a relationship between Obama and terrorist organizations.
"I like Obama's sense of freshness," he said. "When he says something it reminds me of a great leader."
Though a supporter of Obama, Fabian admitted that his views on McCain weren't all negative.
"I think he's a very eligible candidate," he said. "He'd make a fine president."
According to Gallup polls conducted the night after each debate, people surveyed believed Barack Obama beat John McCain in all three debates.
After the first debate, people chose Obama to be the winner over McCain 46 to 34 percent, according to the poll. The second debate saw that gap widen to 56 percent for Obama and 23 percent for McCain. The results from the final debate also showed Obama ahead 56 percent to an improved 30 percent for McCain.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. To find out where to vote go to http://www.uwec.edu/vote.htm/.
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