Posted 2:31 a.m. Oct. 1, 2004.
The political climate at AU during the presidential debate between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) Thursday night represented the nation in general: intensely divided.
Hundreds of students of diverse ideologies attended the several organized debate-watching events around campus. For instance, one site where students gathered was Ward One where the debate was played on two large screens to a full house of students with mixed attitudes and views.
At any given point during the debate, one group of students would applaud Bush, another would shout in support for Kerry and others would make obscene gestures at the screen not obviously directed at either candidate.
AU College Democrats President Greg Wasserstrom had high regard for Kerry's performance.
"[Kerry] came out miles ahead of Bush," Wasserstrom said. "He did very well articulating his thoughts and positions."
Wasserstrom said Kerry succeeded in proposing a workable way out of the war in Iraq and positive plan for disposing leftover Soviet nuclear waste.
"In the end the voters will decide, and after tonight they will decide in favor of John Kerry," he said.
AU College Republican Vice President Alan Griffith said the debate went very well for Bush.
"The President drew a sharp contrast to Senator Kerry. He did a good job hammering down on and ridiculing him," Griffith said. "Kerry comes across as an arrogant Eastern liberal type, which doesn't go over well in middle America. He seemed as if he was trying to lecture people, including the moderator and the President."
Graduate student and fellow Republican Nathaniel Kulyk agreed, for the most part.
"Bush continued to be crystal clear in his views," he said, adding that while Kerry seemed to take a firmer stance on various issues, his main argument appeared to be pessimism.
"Pessimism alone does not win elections," Kulyk said.
Naomi Leight, president of AU Students for Israel, had mixed feelings about the debate.
"Both candidates support Israel in principle, but it would have been nice to see them discuss the topic more," Leight said. "Kerry did mention that a stable Iraq equals a safer Israel, but President Bush also has a terrific record in supporting it."
She added, "I know either candidate will support democracy in the Middle East. No matter what, Israel will have a friend in the White House."
The AU College Republicans and Students for Israel gathered in a classroom in the McKinley Building, while the College Democrats and AU Students for Kerry packed the McDowell Hall Formal Lounge.
The reactions to the candidates varied from room to room. At times when Kerry criticized Bush or the president paused or stumbled over his words, the McDowell gathering would erupt into applause and laughter. While the students in McKinley were less vocal, there were occassional snickers at Kerry's points.
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