Sunday, January 6, 2008
University Graduate student Lauren Simma reaction to Obama
Second-year graduate student Lauren Simma does not believe Obama is the correct choice for President.
Late poll results
New polls out tonight indicate a major shift in momentum. Obama has taken a 10-point lead, according to a CNN/WMUR poll, and a 12-point lead in a USA Today/Gallup poll.
The margin between Republicans is much closer. McCain is up by four points in the USA Today poll
The margin between Republicans is much closer. McCain is up by four points in the USA Today poll
Newsday picks up on trip, and Chronicle blog
Newsday's Spin Cycle political blog has picked up on the University's trip to New Hampshire. Find the post here
Obama hours late to a rally in Salem, NH
The students waited more than three hours to hear from Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), but he spoke to an auditorium filled to capacity in Salem High School in Salem, N.H.
The overflow crowd packed into a gym down the hall to hear the audio from the 30-minute stump speech.
Obama was two hours late to the event, which was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. He began speaking at about 6 p.m.
He apologized for his lateness, saying “it was partially my fault.”
“I’m running because of what Dr. King called ‘the fierce urgency of now,”’ Obama said. “The American people are responding to a call for change.”
Obama’s speech turned a few students in his favor, according to a voice vote taken on the bus after the speech.
But not all students approved of Obama’s performance.
“He was a good speaker. He convinced me that he was passionate and genuine, but there were holes in his speech,” Loretta Jacobs, a freshman special education major said. “I think he did not go into specifics.”
Freshman Jeff Ahking disagreed. “Those people were lacking hope,” he said.
The overflow crowd packed into a gym down the hall to hear the audio from the 30-minute stump speech.
Obama was two hours late to the event, which was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. He began speaking at about 6 p.m.
He apologized for his lateness, saying “it was partially my fault.”
“I’m running because of what Dr. King called ‘the fierce urgency of now,”’ Obama said. “The American people are responding to a call for change.”
Obama’s speech turned a few students in his favor, according to a voice vote taken on the bus after the speech.
But not all students approved of Obama’s performance.
“He was a good speaker. He convinced me that he was passionate and genuine, but there were holes in his speech,” Loretta Jacobs, a freshman special education major said. “I think he did not go into specifics.”
Freshman Jeff Ahking disagreed. “Those people were lacking hope,” he said.
Students pose questions at Town Hall With John McCain
Two University students asked Sen. John McCain questions during a Town Hall meeting in Salem, N.H. in which McCain faced protests from activists supporting more funding for AIDS-related causes.
The students' questions focused on issues foreign policy in the Middle East. One student, Roy Seter, a senior political science major, asked about the massive killing of Armnenians during World War 1 that the hands of the Ottoman turks which the United States has refused to declare a genocide.
McCain did not directly address the Armenian genocide, saying he "did not vote for the measure" when it came up for a vote in the Senate, but he added: "I will be glad to condemn genocide wherever it takes place."
The other student asked about McCain's policy towards Iran, to which he responded by accusing the country of harboring and supporting terrorists.
University students were not the only active participants in the Town Hall meeting. Activists stood up yelling "People are dying! You are not trying!" as they held up paper signs saying "50 million people die of global AIDS."
The protest became heated as many holding signs were escorted out of the event. As they left, McCain supporters cheered "Mac is back!"
McCain delivered his stump speech, emphasizing his support for a line-item veto to cut spending on pet projects for districts, known as pork barrel spending. "I'm going to veto every pork-barrel project," he said.
McCain took a question from a youthful voter asking what he would do for young people.
"I'll do climate change because of your generation, not because of mine," he said.
The students' questions focused on issues foreign policy in the Middle East. One student, Roy Seter, a senior political science major, asked about the massive killing of Armnenians during World War 1 that the hands of the Ottoman turks which the United States has refused to declare a genocide.
McCain did not directly address the Armenian genocide, saying he "did not vote for the measure" when it came up for a vote in the Senate, but he added: "I will be glad to condemn genocide wherever it takes place."
The other student asked about McCain's policy towards Iran, to which he responded by accusing the country of harboring and supporting terrorists.
University students were not the only active participants in the Town Hall meeting. Activists stood up yelling "People are dying! You are not trying!" as they held up paper signs saying "50 million people die of global AIDS."
The protest became heated as many holding signs were escorted out of the event. As they left, McCain supporters cheered "Mac is back!"
McCain delivered his stump speech, emphasizing his support for a line-item veto to cut spending on pet projects for districts, known as pork barrel spending. "I'm going to veto every pork-barrel project," he said.
McCain took a question from a youthful voter asking what he would do for young people.
"I'll do climate change because of your generation, not because of mine," he said.
Forum in a Manchester, N.H. temple
Temple Adash Yeshurun in Manchester was the site of a forum for candidates, and students filed along the walls to hear from candidates not getting as much airtime in the mainstream press.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) and former Sen. Mike Gravel (D- Ala.) all made their case to a full reception area in the synagogue. An aide for Sen. Hillary Clinton named Ann Lewis made her case as well.
All of the candidates, as well as Clinton's aide, stood firmly in support of Israel. However, Gravel differed in his approach.
He voiced his support for the American Peace Now movement, which advocates giving up the West Bank for peace. Gravel said he would bring peace to the Middle East no matter what the cost.
"Don't worry about the details; I'll force it through by will," he said. "It is the people that are gonna take control of the peace process, not the leaders."
All of the candidates were asked what they would do first upon being elected president.
"The first thing I would do [as President] is get out of Iraq," said Richardson, the candidate appearing here with the highest poll numbers and profile.
Hunter appeared first, and advocated building a fence along the border with Mexico.
Gravel, who appeared later, disagreed with Hunter's advocacy for the fence. "I would blow only three things up if I were elected president: that fence along Mexico, Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib," he said.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) and former Sen. Mike Gravel (D- Ala.) all made their case to a full reception area in the synagogue. An aide for Sen. Hillary Clinton named Ann Lewis made her case as well.
All of the candidates, as well as Clinton's aide, stood firmly in support of Israel. However, Gravel differed in his approach.
He voiced his support for the American Peace Now movement, which advocates giving up the West Bank for peace. Gravel said he would bring peace to the Middle East no matter what the cost.
"Don't worry about the details; I'll force it through by will," he said. "It is the people that are gonna take control of the peace process, not the leaders."
All of the candidates were asked what they would do first upon being elected president.
"The first thing I would do [as President] is get out of Iraq," said Richardson, the candidate appearing here with the highest poll numbers and profile.
Hunter appeared first, and advocated building a fence along the border with Mexico.
Gravel, who appeared later, disagreed with Hunter's advocacy for the fence. "I would blow only three things up if I were elected president: that fence along Mexico, Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib," he said.
NH GOP pulls support of Fox News forum
The New Hampshire state Republican party pulled its support for a forum on FOX News in protest of the network's decision not to include Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) and Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.).
Paul's campaign released a statement approving the decision, and the story got a full writeup at Politico.com.
Paul's campaign released a statement approving the decision, and the story got a full writeup at Politico.com.
Watching debates on television
The students watched back-to-back debates sponsored by ABC News and Facebook at the Radisson. Televisions were tuned to the debates in a large plaza room. Food and refreshments were served, and students watched the debates along with hotel patrons.
The hotel also had televisions tuned to the debates in the lobby, and students congregated there as well.
The back-to-back debates, moderated by Charles Gibson, presented a unique format designed to allow the candidates to address each other, and each debate was successful in creating some measure of conflict amongst the candidates.
The hotel also had televisions tuned to the debates in the lobby, and students congregated there as well.
The back-to-back debates, moderated by Charles Gibson, presented a unique format designed to allow the candidates to address each other, and each debate was successful in creating some measure of conflict amongst the candidates.
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