With the election a little more than two months away and the race between Barack Obama and John McCain gearing up, the selection of vice presidential candidates in the past week has brought mixed reactions from Democrats and Republicans.
Representatives of both parties on campus see the decisions by Obama and McCain as positive for the individual campaigns and see success for the parties in the election.
According to Peter Barnes, sophomore in forestry management and president of College Republicans, the decision of the McCain campaign to select Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is one which will bring the Republican party together.
“I’m excited McCain picked Governor Palin,” he said. “She is definitely a rising star in the Republican Party so her and McCain are a good match. She will bring a new face and a different point of view that people aren’t used to.”
Ches Mcdowell, sophomore in political science and also a member of College Republicans, said he was glad to see McCain pick Gov. Palin.
“Not many people know much about her so when I first heard the news I wanted to find out more about her,” he said. “The more I read about her the more I like her. She’s an all-around great pick and she really has me excited about the ticket.”
College Democrats Vice President Derek Gatlin said the announcement of Gov. Palin as McCain’s running mate was carefully planned by Republican strategists.
“The McCain campaign’s choice of Gov. Palin was a risky political move,” he said. “The announcement came at a time calculated to steal attention away from the energized Obama campaign.”
Barnes said he saw Gov. Palin as a relatable running mate who can connect with average Americans.
“Her family has very common issues just like every other American family,” he said.
On Monday, the McCain campaign announced that Gov. Palin’s 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant, something which McDowell said could show the relatable nature of the Alaskan Governor.
“Politically that shouldn’t be talked about,” McDowell said of the pregnancy. “[Her daughter being pregnant] doesn’t have anything to do with Sarah Palin as a choice. But her daughter is a great example for young women who think they have to have an abortion if the get pregnant. This shows how much Palin can relate to everyday Americans.”
For Democrats, like Gatlin, the selection of Sen. Joe Biden as Barack Obama’s running mate is something which makes the Democratic ticket strong.
“I was very excited when I found out because Biden was my preference for the Vice Presidential pick,” he said. “Biden has much experience as a Senator, he’s very well spoken and he is a very well-respected statesmen around the world. This country needs Joe Biden to help restore our place on the world stage.”
Gatlin also said Biden would help the Obama campaign because of his experience in foreign policy.
“Biden has experience in dealing with world leaders and can weigh in with very wise advice,” Gatlin said.
Douglas Massengill, a junior in political science and president of the North Carolina Federation of College Democrats, said Sen. Joe Biden made the Democrats chances of winning the election more likely.
“I was ecstatic about the choice,” he said. “When Sen. Obama chose Biden to be his running mate I immediately felt the ticket was unbeatable.”
McDowell said Biden’s experience adds to the Democratic ticket but does not make up for Obama’s youth.
“Since Obama has absolutely no experience in politics, Joe Biden obviously adds experience to the ticket,” he said. “But people don’t usually vote for the vice president.”
Massengill said the decision of the McCain campaign to pick Gov. Palin now makes the Democratic ticket more experienced despite Obama’s short time in the Senate.
“There is nothing, with regards to experience, that McCain can criticize Obama about because now the combined years of experience on the Obama ticket outweigh those of Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin,” he said.
