Spring Break
As elections approach, students share opinions
Edward Humphrys
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: News
With the Nov. 4 election less than a month away, presidential hopefuls Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama are stepping up campaign efforts in attempts to appeal to the majority of American voters.
And with the major presidential debates now over, voters have what might be their final impressions concerning the political stance of the major party candidates. In a political race marked by steep divides along key issues, these final impressions might be the deciding factor between candidates.
Many UA students will be among those at the voting booths next month, some of them participating in their first presidential election. They will carry with them unique concerns and perspectives on the political climate, situated as they are in a specific position in the electorate.
The current state of the U.S. economy is a potential source of concern for UA students, many of whom will be entering the job market in a short period of time with unemployment slowly rising and the housing market still unstable.
Freshman Nataly Hopkins is one of many students who is beginning to feel the effects of the economic situation.
"The price of gas is pretty important to me," Hopkins said. "So economic policy is a big issue. For my future, I'm really concerned about the housing market and how that ends up."
Hopkins said she probably will vote for McCain.
"I agree with a lot of the things he has been saying, and I'm more of a conservative than anything," she said.
April Thomas, a sophomore pre-medical major, also is concerned about the nation's economy.
"Economic policy is very important to me right now with the market in such bad shape," she said. "I think any presidential nominee needs to have a strong practical policy going in or the situation is going to get worse."
Thomas also is worried about the qualifications of Obama and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's vice presidential running mate.
"With the world the way it is right now, I think more importance needs to be placed on a candidate's political experience," she said. "In my opinion, Obama and Palin are too unfamiliar with the international political situation the U.S. is involved in."
And with the major presidential debates now over, voters have what might be their final impressions concerning the political stance of the major party candidates. In a political race marked by steep divides along key issues, these final impressions might be the deciding factor between candidates.
Many UA students will be among those at the voting booths next month, some of them participating in their first presidential election. They will carry with them unique concerns and perspectives on the political climate, situated as they are in a specific position in the electorate.
The current state of the U.S. economy is a potential source of concern for UA students, many of whom will be entering the job market in a short period of time with unemployment slowly rising and the housing market still unstable.
Freshman Nataly Hopkins is one of many students who is beginning to feel the effects of the economic situation.
"The price of gas is pretty important to me," Hopkins said. "So economic policy is a big issue. For my future, I'm really concerned about the housing market and how that ends up."
Hopkins said she probably will vote for McCain.
"I agree with a lot of the things he has been saying, and I'm more of a conservative than anything," she said.
April Thomas, a sophomore pre-medical major, also is concerned about the nation's economy.
"Economic policy is very important to me right now with the market in such bad shape," she said. "I think any presidential nominee needs to have a strong practical policy going in or the situation is going to get worse."
Thomas also is worried about the qualifications of Obama and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's vice presidential running mate.
"With the world the way it is right now, I think more importance needs to be placed on a candidate's political experience," she said. "In my opinion, Obama and Palin are too unfamiliar with the international political situation the U.S. is involved in."
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