KRTRepublican candidate George W. Bush battled head-to-head with Democrat John Kerry on issues of foreign policy, homeland securit, and the biggest controversy, the War in Iraq last Thursday, Sept. 30th. The debate is the first of three scheduled before the election on Nov. 2nd.
Many students at Cabrini have been getting involved supporting their favorite candidate. Posters rallying Bush or Kerry hang in many dorm windows; buttons worn on school bags and shirts, and even at the Involvement Fair, the Republican and Democratic clubs each had their own table, backing their favorite candidate. Therefore, many Cabrini students were glued to the television Thursday night watching the debate. For those students are heavily involved in politics, and or for those planning on voting on Election Day, what will make them decide which candidate speaks for them? Is it really based on the issues or on their image? Does this give them a bias going into the debate? One sophomore student said she was voting for Bush solely because he is “cute.”
When asked what she looked for while watching, Kim Hope, a senior Education major and Bush supported said, ” I was looking for the candidate’s reaction and facial expressions to each others responses to the questions and the way they presented themselves, for example how they dressed and stood.”
This creates a new concept added to this year’s debate: the split screen. Never before has a candidate’s reactions been displayed during the opponents answer and rebuttals. Hope went on to say, “I will not base my decision for candidate on three debates. I feel I have enough information on the two candidates, based on previous experiences, values and beliefs to make a firm decision.” Hope considers herself a strong Bush supporter.
Brian Nentwig, a senior History major, said, “I already had my mind made up” when asked if he was undecided before the debate. Nentwig is also a Bush supporter, and continued, “Bush counteracted some more realistic key remarks that Kerry made and what Kerry voted against. Bush explained how he would get things done.”
A junior marketing major who asked to remain anonymous, said, “Bush won on substance; Kerry presented more clearly.” Colleen Bowman, a Junior Business major, was undecided before watching the debate. She also said she isn’t very interested in politics; however, she did view the televised debate. She said, “Kerry seemed more prepared, more professional, with his demeanor and facial expressions, he never showed emotion while Bush was speaking. Kerry looks more like a leader.” Bowman also said, “This debate alone should not be the deciding factor who to vote for.”
Dr. James Hedtke, a history professor, said that the University of Michigan has been doing studies on presidential debates for years. Every year they come up with the same conclusion.
There are three things voters look for. The first being people who are republican tend to vote for a republican candidate and democrats will vote for the democrat candidate. The second trigger is if they are part of the independent party or of no party they will look at the image. Surprisingly, issues at hand are only of third importance. Hedtke said, “Kerry won the debate on issues and image. He was the bigger winner on image.”
Hedtke also spoke about how college students usually will back the candidate whom they are supporting. “Students that are hardcore Democrat or Republican will go and support that candidate unless they really mess up,” he said.
In regards to the next two debates Hedtke said, “Bush had more to lose than Kerry; polls show he was able to close the gap with Bush. The next two debates will be very important.”
If you are interested in watching the next two debates, the second will be tomorrow night, Oct. 8 in front of an audience of voters and the third on Oct. 15 focusing on economic and domestic policy.
Posted to the web by Ryan Norris
