The Orbis

Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: News/Features

Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Mitt Romney

Though the media hype about candidates and potential candidates for the 2008 presidential election is already exhausting, many voters are still trying to discern who these candidates actually are and what they promote. The media's early focus on certain candidates, including Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain has not gone unnoticed by Vanderbilt students. And despite the fact that many already hold strong opinions about certain candidates, some students remain skeptical of the candidates' platforms and their abilities to succeed on the national level. Students want to hear more from these candidates about the issues they consider important.

Perhaps not surprisingly, most students seem focused primarily on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama at this early stage of the election process. But students expressed many concerns about these candidates as well.

Sophomore Elias Feghali, for example, said he is "cautiously optimistic about Barack Obama," because, although he has a positive view of the senator, Obama has not outlined his platform yet. "Obama doesn't appear to live in the Beltway bubble. He's approachable, honest and understands that there are many challenges awaiting whoever wins the presidency," Feghali said. Feghali also said he "would certainly consider volunteering for (Obama's) campaign back home this summer" when Obama makes his platform better known, provided his message is one Feghali can "trust."

Sophomore Joi Howard said that while she likes both candidates, she believes Clinton's experience gives her an edge. "I would definitely be willing to support either Democratic candidate. However, I feel as though Hillary might be more fit for the position because she's had more experience, it seems, in the political arena," said Howard.

In addition to doubts about the specific abilities and opinions of Clinton and Obama, many students question the nation's willingness to elect a woman or a black man to the presidential office.

Sophomore Daniel Kasbohm said, "I believe that we still are unable to elect a president that doesn't fit the classic president profile. We will continue to elect white, male, heterosexual, Protestant, rich people to the presidency."

Similarly, Junior Julie Herward, a member of College Republicans, in addition to opposing Hillary Clinton's political views, said "Even though women may call me 'anti-feminist' for this comment, I do not necessarily think our country, let alone the world, is ready for a female American president. While establishing precedent for female leadership in the world is important, the United States, in its current relationship with countries (particularly) in the Middle East, could suffer even further alienation."

Continued...

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