Many students who watched yesterday's presidential debate at Hawaii Pacific University's downtown student lounge indicated their preferences weren't changed by the candidates' performances.

 
• Local Parties Believe Their Candidate Winner

 

 

 

Democratic and Republican parties both believed that their presidential candidate showed their best during the presidential debate.

 

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  “;I think John McCain is winning,”; said Abigail Boslet, 20, an entrepreneurial studies major. “;(Barack Obama) was strong at first, but I think McCain took the lead. He's definitely using tactics to get to the heart of a person.

“;Personally I'm a registered Republican and conservative and I'm actually surprised how similar some of their policies are,”; she said. “;We definitely have a chance of having a Republican in office.”;

The McCain backer was among a few dozen students who watched the televised debate yesterday at HPU. Journalism and communications students were invited by their professors to watch the televised debate at 3 p.m. yesterday.

Although Joseph Kourieh, 25, who is seeking a master's in business administration degree, said McCain was performing better, he is now even more opposed to the Republican.

The Obama supporter said: “;McCain is more clear, more direct.

“;I disagree even more so with McCain because I know where he stands,”; he said. “;It's not because of Obama's answers, but because of McCain's answers.”;

While almost all of the students interviewed said their favored candidate did well, the debate caused at least one student to rethink her choice.

Nicole Redding, 25, a public relations major, said, “;It gave me a good look at how each candidate would adjust the budget. Going into this I would have said Obama, but during the course of the debate, now I'm undecided.”;

Chris Ferry, 30, a graduate student of teaching English as a second language and an Obama-backer, said: “;I think Obama is stronger on the economy, but McCain really shines through here when they're talking about the war. ... I've been watching it for months. Nothing new here.”;

Shawn Milendor, 22, a finance and business economics major, said the candidates were even on the economy. McCain wants to continue a war that costs billions of dollars a month, he said.

He's leaning toward Obama, with his proposed lowering of taxes for the lower-income and middle class (those making less than $250,000), which he believes will increase consumer spending, benefit business and performance in the market and increase investor confidence.

John Hart, an HPU communications professor and a former debate coach, said, “;McCain did much better on economic policy than expected and Obama did much better on foreign policy than expected.”;

He said the two were dead even, but called it a win for Obama, just barely, based on the Illinois senator's closing statement.

“;This is still the public's best, last hope to get past the 30-second sound bite,”; Hart said.