Technician - November 4, 2008

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Raleigh, North Carolina

Swing status brings added focus to state N.C. STATE’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TIMELINE January 30 After losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, Democratic presidential candidate, former senator and University alumna John Edwards drops from the presidential race. (jan. 31 issue) March 27 Hillary Clinton makes her first North Carolina visit to Wake Tech Community College March 29 80th Annual Young Democrats’ State Convention brings John Edwards, James Carville and many students to RTP March 31 Chelsea Clinton speaks at Talley Student Center, student gets national attention for question about Bill Clinton’s personal life.

CAMPAIGNS KEEP PUSHING TILL THE END DESPITE NORTH CAROLINA’S STATUS STORY BY SAJA HINDI & CHRIS ALLRED | PHOTOS TECHNICIAN FILE | PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LUIS ZAPATA

April 8 Michelle Obama campaigns for husband in Reynolds Coliseum

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oday’s the day. North Carolina mattered in the primaries when people thought it couldn’t happen, because the state’s primary was so late.

April 21 Proposed April 27 debate at the RBC Center is officially cancelled. Clinton pushed for the debate, but Obama’s campaign had not yet agreed to come, so the party cancelled it.

And now, although the state has voted red since 1976, it’s being considered a swing state. “Part of it is changing demographics in a lot of places, people moving in from the northeast,� Chris Ellis, assistant professor of political science, said. But Ellis said it’s more than that. “People that are traditionally conservative or moderate voters are changing their minds,� he said. However, Ellis said he doesn’t think North Carolina’s change of attitude is enough to change the state’s status as a red state. “It wasn’t a close state at all in 2004,� he said. “It takes a lot of attitude to change to [turn blue].� Jim Ceresnak, a junior in political science, is an advocate of gubernatorial Republican candidate Pat McCrory and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, and he remained optimistic in North Carolina’s performance. “McCain will win,� he said. “It’s going to be an extremely tight race, [but]

May 2 Obama and Clinton speak at Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at State Fairgrounds. May 6 Obama draws thousands to Reynolds Coliseum where he speaks after winning North Carolina’s Democratic primary

Oct. 6 Technician holds debate between Students for McCain and Students for Obama Oct. 29 Obama returns to Raleigh. Nov. 1 Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican vice presidential candidate, makes first Raleigh appearance at State Fairgrounds.

ELECTION COUNTDOWN:

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Days until the election.

McCain will pull it out.� Ceresnak said the GOP headquarters in downtown Raleigh was so full Monday night that people could barely get in. “Despite all the news and all the coverage and the polls... we’re looking at polls now every 30 to 15 minutes, and the margins keep tightening, especially in the state,� he said. Ellis said there’s only so much history to go against to win a state like North Carolina. “You have a national tide toward the Democrats,� he said. Melissa Price, an alumna and vice president of Young Democrats in North Carolina, disagreed. “It will be a tight race, but Obama will probably pull it off,� she said. Obama, Price said, had a “really amazing ground effort� in North Carolina that helped him become competitive in the state. “People knew what he was for — it’s what turned North Carolina into a swing state,� she said. “He had to fight harder in North Carolina, [and] by fighting harder, he positioned himself better in the general election.� Ceresnak agreed that attitudes are definitely changing. “On the national level, as a Republican, it’s not a great thing to hear that

CHECK INSIDE FOR MORE ELECTION COVERAGE:

Find national and local election coverage online at technicianonline.com. The Technician Voter’s Guide, which outlines each national, state and Raleigh candidate, is still available to view online at technicianonline.com.

Page 2: Shaping up the governor’s race Page 3: How citizens judge a presidents’ character Page 4: Negative ads’ role in the campaign Technician’s guide to election results Page 7: Perspectives from different voters

Unified government could present risks If the Democrats win the presidency, supermajority provides advantages and disadvantages Saja Hindi Editor-in-Chief

The Democrats, now in control of both the House and the Senate, will also be in control of the highest executive office of government if Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wins the national election. Michael Cobb, associate professor of political science, said there are both positives and negatives to this possibility.

SUPERMAJORITY

The Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or another matter with cloture to avoid a filibuster. This can only be done with a vote of three-fifths of the entire Senate, or 60 votes, which is why the Democrats desire a 60-vote majority. SOURCE: U.S. SENATE WEB SITE

“Unified government makes it easier for actions to occur,� he said. “One party is in control and it makes it easier to know who is in charge of the good and the bad [things that happen].� But on the other hand, there is less introspection of the party’s own member’s activities.

“We saw that in the last three years where a large number of Republicans were indicted in investigations and found guilty and faced jail time,� Cobb said. The number was almost unprecedented in modern times, he said, not that these people weren’t guilty — but that there wasn’t as much scrutiny on the Democrats. Douglas Massengill from the North Carolina Federation of Democrats, a junior in political science, said a unified government for the Democrats would help Obama implement his proposed policies. MAJORITY continued page 4

With North Carolina now classified as a swing state, every vote will be crucial. IN four individual polls compiled by CNN between Oct. 23 and Now. 2, neither candidate held a lead of more than six points.

HERE ARE THE POLLS: CNN Poll of Polls Obama 49% McCain 48% Unsure 3% Date conducted: Oct. 23-Nov.2 Margin of error: No sampling error Poll 1 Source: NBC/Mason-Dixon McCain 49% Obama 46%

our state that’s been red... could be turning blue,� he said. But both Price and Ceresnak recognized the importance of the local races as well. “I think [U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Kay] Hagan is going to pull it out and it’s going to be really good for North Carolina,� she said. Ceresnak said the changing attitudes in North Carolina apply to the local races, not just those on the national level. “This is such a monumental election in so many ways on so many different levels in North Carolina,� he said. “People want changes in the national

Unsure 5% Date Conducted: Oct.29-30 Margin of error: +- 4% Poll 2 Source: CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation Obama 52% McCain 46% Unsure 1% Date conducted: Oct. 23-28 Margin or error: +- 4% Poll 3 Source: Allstate/National Journal/FD Obama 47% McCain 43% Unsure 10% Date Conducted: Oct. 23-27 Margin of error: +- 5% SOURCE FOR ALL: CNN.COM

offices as well as the local offices.� McCrory, he said, is running on a similar agenda — for “the same reason people are fed up with Republicans on the national level,� the Republicans want a change in Democratic governors. “The excitement about this election is at such a high level,� Ceresnak said. “It’s great for people who understand politics.�

insidetechnician

Pack cloggining looks to expand team. See page 10.

focused features classifieds sports

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allup’s final national pre-election poll showed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama ahead of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, 53 percent to 42 percent. Republicans are hoping McCain can make a sweep of swing states tonight for a victory with at least 270 electoral votes.

CARS BY TAYLOR MCCUNE | MCCAIN PHOTO COURTSY JOHNMCCAIN.COM| OBAMA PHOT BY PEGGY BOONE


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