Barack Obama won the College Democrats’ straw poll after more than an hour of debate between students representing the different Democratic presidential candidates. The war in Iraq, the healthcare system and foreign policy consumed most of the discussion.
“The debate was a terrific event in two ways: breadth of knowledge and passion the students had, but just as important, the room was packed with an enthusiastic audience,” Government professor Mark Rom, who moderated the debate, said.
Or Skolnik (COL ’08), President of the Georgetown College Democrats, pointed to the educational benefit of a student-run debate.
“It’s a great way to teach students about the candidates; it gives them the chance to show their support,” Skolnik said.
While social issues such as same-sex marriage sparked some tension, the debate was mainly cordial.
“I would have liked to see more interchange within the candidates’ representatives,” said Rom.
Chris Dodge (SFS ’10), who stood in for Kucinich, provided most of the sparks between the other students on stage.
“You said Senator Clinton is very, very pro-civil unions. The question I want to ask is why is she very very anti-gay marriage,” said Dodge, whose question was directed at Senator Clinton’s student representative, Rich Luchette (COL ’09). Dodge is Deputy D.C. Director of Students for Barack Obama.
Undeterred by the attacks on Clinton during the debate, Luchette defended the senator’s campaign.
“The turnout and active participation of the student body shows that there is a hunger for change on this campus,” Luchette said. “I feel that Clinton is the candidate who can make that change a reality.”
All of the candidates agreed on one point: the necessity of a Democrat in the White House.
“The situation on Democrats’ minds is who is best prepared to win, and to serve as president,” Christopher Hull, one of the government professors moderating the event said. “They’re looking for candidates as agents of change who are looking to break out of normal mode of D.C.”
Senator Obama won the unofficial debate with 36 votes, and Senator Clinton was the runner-up with twenty votes.
Matt Hadin (COL ’10), represented Obama. The rest of the field included representatives for New York Senator Hillary Clinton, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich and Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd. Missing was former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, because no student could be found to represent him.
