With the 2008 Presidential elections around the corner, nominations and bids are slowly being thrown in as contenders gear up to compete for the next United States President.
The US presidential election will be held November 4, 2008. This election will determine electors for the United States Electoral College. Whichever presidential candidate receives the majority of votes from the Electoral College will claim the title as the 44th President of the US and whichever vice presidential candidate receives a majority of votes will be the 47th Vice President of the United States.
Before the power battle between the Democratic and Republican Party begins, each party must select one representative. This representative will have their party’s support and by extension financial support. The candidates are currently campaigning and will begin their full scale campaign activities in time for the Iowa caucus January 14, 2008 and the New Hampshire Primary on January 22, 2008.
“It’s an election,” said Jarrett Lemieux, a senior and business management major from New Orleans, La. “Hopefully good things will come out of it. I’m looking for more democratic policies to come out,” he continued.
Like any other presidential election, the 2008 election has many students hoping and wishing for a changing government. Sites like www.democracymatters.org inform and engage college students and communities in efforts to strengthen democracy. Democracy Matters encourages the emergence of a new generation of reform-minded leaders.
According to Democracy Matters, as a result of national scandals and the corrupting influence of money in politics many Americans – especially young people — have lost faith in the democratic system.
“I think you should vote regardless,” said Alecia Heffner, a senior and health sciences major from St. Louis, Mo. “Even though people think that one voice doesn’t matter, people who stand on a common ground eventually make a difference,” she continued.
On the Democratic side vying for the top democratic nomination are Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama. According to political moguls, Clinton has all the name recognition she needs, but she has shown to be a very divisive figure in polls. Obama appears to be the party’s golden child, but it is questionable if voters will think he’s ready for the position of president.
Senator John McCain is portrayed as the top Republican contender. Experts expect that he will move to the Independent party if he wins the nomination.
“Republicans are stuck on their own ideas, which aren’t always good for the majority of Americans,” said Heffner.
If either candidate, Obama or Clinton, wins the 2008 president election, it would be a first for the US. If Obama is announced president, he will become the first African- American president. If Clinton is announced president, she will become the nation’s first female president.
“I am happy that both of them are actually running but I am torn between the two because Obama is black and Clinton because she’s a woman,” said Stephanie McGary, a junior political science major from Dallas, Texas.
Students are excited to see two minorities compete in the upcoming election. However, critics are skeptical that race and gender will play a major issue in the selection process.
“His race will play a major role,” said McGary. “Of course, it’s going to present a problem because we still have racist people; a lot of white people are not going to vote for him because he’s Black. I wish American’s were more mature,” she stated.
