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McCain or Obama?

Politics at the University

As Nov. 4 draws near, students are preparing to vote in what, for many, will be their first presidential election. In the accompanying video, we asked students about which candidate they plan to support and how they are making their decisions.

Of course, students aren’t the only ones interested in the election. As Professor Larry Sabato is fond of saying, “Politics is a good thing.” If that’s true, then there are plenty of good things happening around the University, where the study of politics is thriving.


Around Grounds: A Political Sampler

Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball ’08
Run by the University’s Center for Politics, this site analyzes the presidential, Senate, House and gubernatorial elections and claims to provide the “Web’s most accurate political analysis.”

Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics
This department’s recent newsletter includes articles about graduates involved in this year’s elections and the role of race and gender in American politics.

The Miller Center of Public Affairs
“A national meeting place for engaged citizens, scholars, students, media representatives and government officials to research, reflect, and report on issues of national importance to the governance of the United States, with special attention to the central role and
history of the presidency.”
The Miller Center recently conducted a National Discussion and Debate Series.

Explorations
The latest issue of this publication about research at U.Va. turns its attention to some of the University’s leading thinkers about politics and the electoral process.

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
This non-partisan organization is “dedicated to improving political leadership in Virginia, thereby strengthening the quality of governance at all levels of government.” Currently, 16 Sorensen alumni are in the Virginia General Assembly (two in the Senate, 14 in the House of Delegates).
For more about the institute, see the University of Virginia Magazine’s Spring 2007 feature article.

NBC Today Show
The Today Show sent Luke Russert to U.Va. for a report on the youth vote’s impact on the election.

 



Comments:
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 6:35:27 AM 
This Web Exclusive gives the false impression that students will be deciding between only two candidates in this presidential election. However, students who vote in Virginia will have alternative options to the increased militarism, illegal government surveillance on lawful American citizens, and anti-gay equality stances that both Obama and McCain espouse. Shame on the UVA Magazine for perpetuating the 2-party myth in this country and ignoring the views of a sizable number of students who will be choosing an alternative candidate in this election.
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 7:35:48 AM 
Imagine if Jefferson had been present to hear the first two debates between between these two inept and under qualified senators who are running for president. Neither one really represents the people. They represent their party first and big government as a close second. And the closer we get to election day, the closer both candidates are to aligning themselves with socialism. B. Rollinson Arch 57
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 9:40:29 AM 
Is a 50-50 split (or 33-33-33) really representative of the students' opinions...or is it just the politically correct equal time?
College '77
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 10:10:12 AM 
Right on B. Rollinson Arch 57

That's why I am so attracted (politically) to Sarah Pallin.

Ted Engin '66
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 12:11:22 PM 
The war in Iraq is just. We did not need to find "weapons of mass destruction." Saddam Hussein was a weapon of mass destruction. Notice the key word "was." Thanks to this war he is DEAD and no longer a threat to America or the Iraqi's whom he killed, raped, and tortured.
Illegal government surveillance huh. Our government is spying on enemies of America. People who want you and I dead. I do not give a rip about their "rights." What about my right to live. Most of them are not American citizens anyway. They do not have rights in this country.
"Anti-gay equality stances of both Obama and McCain." Read the Bible. Romans chapter one. God is anti-gay to. He calls it an "abomination." God turns you over to a "reprabate mind" once you sink to deeply into sin. That is when a person enters this perverse condition.
I hate the fact that we only have two major parties myself. The Demoncrats are NUTS and the Republ
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 12:12:28 PM 
icans are not much better. I almost voted for a third party candidate myself (I vote absentee). However I decided to vote against Obama (not for McCain) by putting my mark next to John McCain's name. Unfortunately we do have a two party system for now. Hopefully one day we can change that.


Jason Underwood
2001 graduate currently living in California

ps
If you are in California. Vote yes on Proposition 8. Lets save marriage in California.
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 3:54:37 PM 
GOD IS DEAD. Religion is a crutch for people incapable of the complex thought required to devise their own moral standards.
Anonymous @ 10/15/2008 10:49:33 PM 
The last person interviewed was an unnecessary addition to the film. Sure, it's nice to have diversity, but he said absolutely nothing. In fact, the whole tape was a waste of time. Most of the people said nothing substantial about their reasons for voting one way or another. Also, asking people on the street who they'll vote for is a very unclassy, personal question that potentially violates peoples' right to a secret ballot. Perhaps a better response would be to ask the people who they think is the most qualified candidate for the presidency.
Anonymous @ 10/18/2008 6:49:45 PM 
Couldn't you have found at least one student supporting either Obama or McCain who was basing their vote on the issues instead of vague ideas about the candidates personalities?!?
Anonymous @ 10/19/2008 6:12:11 AM 
oh no, socialism!
i will remind you that the governments that have bourgeois socialism do also have currencies that are more valuable than the US...what with their universal healthcare, universal access to higher ed, etc. hell, even the canadian dollar was/is(the last time i checked it was 'is'), more valuable than the dollar. the canadians. come on.
CLAS '08
Anonymous @ 10/19/2008 11:04:08 PM 
Obama all the way..ENOUGH OF NON-PEOPLE POLITICS !!!! The phony economics as practiced over most of the last 30 years has killed the American people.
Anonymous @ 10/21/2008 11:44:09 AM 
I will be voting for change. Even if things do not change as rapidly as society thinks it should some change is better than no change at all. I will be voting for the candidate (Obama) who has discussed the issues that affect Americans as a whole nation,issues such as gay rights or abortion will not even be considered when I cast my ballot, because those issues do not affect a wide range of Americans. Americans need to think about healthcare and economic issues instead people personal issues. I currently, had to address an issue where my daughter was dropped from my insurance because she turned 23 years old. She is currently enrolled in a Master program. Guess what she has to leave school in December 2009 and find full time employment in order to have healthcare, because healthcare is too expensive for the plumber.

TCC/BIS AB 2008 GRAD
Anonymous @ 10/31/2008 7:47:48 PM 
I will be voting for John McCain and I hope other students do as well. John is not "4 more years of Bush". He is his own man with his own ideas and I like those ideas and plans. Obama has shifted his slick rehtoric throughout the primary and general election campaigns. He tells the audience what it wants to hear and does not respect the voters or thier intelligence. He honestly expects us to believe that he knew nothing of the views of his spiritual advisor after sitting in the pew for 20 years? He doesn't think that Ohio voters will hear about it when he makes a comment about voters "clinging to their guns and bibles"? Wake up people! This guy can't be trusted.


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