Saturday, November 17, 2007

2008 elections

With the 2008 presidential elections approaching quickly, Edina High School seniors (and some juniors) are anticipating their eligibility to vote. Years of political debate filled conversations between students, and this major election will be the first time that students are able to politically matter in the eyes of the government.

“We’re so much more liberal and environmentally conscious. Once we can vote, we can use that power to work towards a more eco-friendly society,” said senior Margot Hurwitz, a Hilary Clinton supporter.

Students are deciding what matters to them in a president, and which candidate best represents them.

“I strongly agree with her [Clinton’s] opinions on abortion, gun control, stem cell research, the war, and same sex marriage. I agree with her on the issues that matter most to me,” Hurwitz said. “Theoretically that would put me with Obama too, but I like Hilary’s experience, it’s so essential to our world right now.”

According to youthvote.org, 26.9 million U.S. citizens are between the ages of 18-25. Of the 26.9 million, 16.1 million are registered to vote. The presidential election is on November 4, 2008.

“I’m excited to vote. I don’t think enough people realize the power of one vote. It’ll be interesting to see if more people actually vote next year after all the controversy in the last two elections.” said senior Jeff Saude, a Republican supporter. “I’m not sure who I want to win, as long as it’s not Clinton.”

Neither the Democratic or Republican party have selected their presidential candidate. Caucuses are being held in each state to determine which candidate for each party will run for office. Many states, including Minnesota, hold caucuses on February 5, 2008, also known as “Super Tuesday.”

“Our country is corrupt either way, I think America needs to take a closer look at Canada, they have no real conflict and a solid economy.” said former Edina junior, Emily Finn. “Whatever. I’m four days short of being 18 anyways, not that my vote would go to something I support.”

Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards are top competitors for the Democratic Party. Clinton, wife of former democratic president, Bill Clinton, is the party’s current forerunner. A poll conducted by CNN shows Clinton leading at 44 percent (with a sampling error of +/- 4.5 percent). The same poll has Obama trailing with 25 percent and Edwards with 14 percent. Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Denis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel have also announced their candidacy for the Democratic party.

George W. Bush is, and has been the United States president since 2000. He will be ineligible to run again, as he is finishing his second term in office. The Republican Party presidential candidates are Rudolph Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter. In a similar CNN poll, results were inconclusive as to who the defined forerunner is, though Giuliani led at 28 percent (with a sampling error of +/-5 percent). Thompson is just behind Giuliani at 19 percent, followed by McCain, Romney, and Huckabee.

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