Twenty days before the 2004 presidential election, millions of voters watched Wednesday night as President George Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry debated the future of the country.
At Towson University, politically attuned students tuned in to watch the third and final presidential debate. Patrons at Paws watched the deliberation on four television screens near the grill.
While waiting for a sandwich, sophomore CIS major James Bayne said Kerry seemed more direct.
“They are beating around the bush a lot of the time, but that’s typical of politicians,” he said.
Students at a watch party sponsored by The Towerlight listened to the candidates’ comments about jobs, taxes and health care.
Before the debate James Parson, a junior CIS major, described himself as “conflicted.”
“I’m kind of a soft Bush supporter, but I’ve taken a great interest in Kerry recently,” he said. “Kerry seemed to have good ideas and opinions, especially in Iraq…He painted a picture that things are wrong there, while Bush was presenting it like it was the Land of Oz. And it’s not. It’s a mess.”
About 90 minutes later, that “great interest” was solidified.
“I made my decision. It’s definitely going to be Kerry for me,” Parson said. He said Kerry’s comments about outsourcing and the Iraq war were key factors.
Mass communication professor Richard Vatz said Kerry won on style and Bush won on substance, but noted the question of winning is complex.
“George Bush obviously did much better than he did in the first debate,” Vatz said. “He was as good as George Bush gets on style…but the fact is that John Kerry, stylistically, is simply superior to [Bush].” The debate focused on domestic policy, but it drifted back to issues related to war from time to time.
Jared Sherman, a senior political science major and a member of the College Democrats, said he preferred the town hall format the candidates debated in last week.
“I think the second debate was a lot better,” he said. “There was a lot more back-and-forth.”
The debates have dominated political conversations since the beginning of October. Debate reactions have led newscasts and been spoofed on Saturday Night Live.
“I wanted to hear Bush answer the question [in the second debate] about three mistakes he made,” Parson said.
“Politicians don’t answer questions,” sophomore international studies and political science major Megan Beattie responded.
Brendan McElroy, president of the College Republicans, said members of his group discussed the debates during their Tuesday afternoon meetings.
“The general feeling was that Bush came [across] as strong, and that he was really able to show the American people how his ability to lead through tough times,” he said.
The College Republicans held a “John Kerry Flip-Flop” day last week. They wore T-shirts listing Kerry’s “alternating stances on the war in Iraq.” At the end of the month, the group plans to hold a Halloween Party, with a “John Kerry Is Scary” theme.
The College Democrats held voter registration drives and tabling events in the Union earlier this semester. They plan to sponsor a screening of “Fahrenheit 9/11” on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Potomac Lounge.
Olivia Gore, a sophomore nursing major, said she will definitely vote for Kerry next month.
“If this election wasn’t so close, I would vote for a third party. I think this country needs change,” she said.
Gore said the cost of the Iraq war is a particular concern.
“As a student, I feel there should definitely be more emphasis on education and less on defense and the military,” she said.
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