Is all the time spent preparing for and watching the Presidential debates actually worth it?

Although political face-offs are a great chance to watch candidates in action, the debates, and all of the political spins that go with them, are aimed at the undecided voter-and the amount of influence the debates have had on undecided voters is still unclear.

Student Life gathered a group of undecided student voters to get their opinions on each debate and share what they look for in a presidential candidate.

Each student seems to have one central issue that will decide his or her vote: junior Erin McGirt is looking for a president who shares her family values and strong morals; senior Lexi Menish’s concerns focus more on national issues; and Senior Shaul Yecheskel wants to elect a candidate with strong ideas about foreign policy.

First impressions and presentation

Before the first debate all three students felt unsatisfied with both Senator John Kerry and President George W. Bush and were looking for answers. Some felt they lacked a good sense of the two candidates’ policies and personalities, while others were undecided because they did not know what information to trust.

“It is a face-off between the media,” said Yecheskel. “That’s why it’s really frustrating. I don’t know what to think of the candidates because we’re fed all this crap. There are two sides to every story and I feel that everything is just distorted and I am left confused.”

As the debates got underway, all agreed that Kerry was a better debater; however, each undecided voter saw different benefits and disadvantages to the candidates’ performances.

“Kerry was very professional and strong in the way he stood and the way he spoke,” said McGirt. “I didn’t think he was too verbose at all. I think he really expressed himself nicely. Bush wasn’t as articulate; he’s not a champion debater. [But] you see what you get and you know he’s real. Because he’s not polished there is a sense of realness.”

Yecheskel agreed that the presentations of both candidates could be seen as advantageous to their respective parties.

“Bush was really repetitive. A lot of the same things were said. Maybe it shows Bush’s consistency, [...] but it also shows Kerry’s breadth, depth, and knowledge,” said Yecheskel in reference to the variety of Kerry’s arguments.

The students who care about character felt that President Bush was more accessible throughout the debates.

“What matters to me is how they came off as people. I don’t feel I know Kerry any better than I did before-I didn’t see his personality. Bush, I feel I know him better. I’m undecided because [Bush] has made lots of mistakes but I still know who he is,” said McGirt.

In general, the students responded negatively to the style of Bush’s presentation. Yecheskel felt that during the debates Bush was “taking what Kerry said and kind of putting words in his mouth.” Menish felt the President’s inferior debating skills were a disadvantage, noting that there were “some false and misleading things that Kerry said that Bush didn’t properly refute.” If Bush were a better communicator or debater, she explained, he could have better responded to Kerry’s accusations.

However, regardless of how appealing she found each candidate, Menish thought both did a very good job at presenting themselves.

“I thought that both candidates seemed presidential,” said Menish. “It was the first time I’d seen Kerry look presidential.”

Considering the issues

When it came to the larger political issues, such as running the country, the undecided voters were divided.

“I think people like [Bush] because they know what they are getting. Especially during Sept. 11, I think that people felt very secure with him and that people don’t forget that,” said McGirt, who feels that homeland security is a strong point for the President.

Yecheskel, on the other hand, is concerned with the international image of the United States and believes that foreign relations must be mended before progress can be made abroad.

“People like America but they don’t like how our government-he has totally splintered the foreign view of our country,” Yecheskel said. “It feels like a much more violent atmosphere abroad.”

Furthermore, Yecheskel feels that the President needs to admit to past faults if he hopes to carry the country forward over the next four years.

“If he isn’t willing to show that he made mistakes then he’s won’t be able to fix things because he will be oblivious to the mistakes he’s made. This is not what makes a good leader,” Yecheskel said.

Opinions swayed in both directions

At the end of the final debate, Yecheskel and McGirt had made their decisions, though they are both hoping to find increased affirmation that they are making the right decisions.

McGirt, who intends to vote for Bush, noted that while “neither one has it all,” she is looking for more reasons to support the President and her decision.

Yecheskel is leaning in the opposite direction.

“I know it’s not a good decision to vote for Bush, but I don’t know if it’s a good decision to vote for Kerry,” said Yecheskel. “I don’t think there’s any way I could vote for Bush, but I feel that I need something more from Kerry to make me believe in him. I’m looking for some kind of affirmation.”

Menish, who was previously leaning towards the right, is now completely undecided because of the debates.

“I was leaning more towards Bush and now I am leaning more towards the center. I am completely undecided,” she said.

Regardless of who each student votes for on Nov. 2, Yecheskel reminds us, “It’s not important what happens at the debate, but what happens afterwards.”

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