2008 Woodie Awards
Obama emerges as primary pick
Diane Poelker
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
Senior Shelley Coffman doesn't have a party affiliation, but she does know who is getting her vote Super Tuesday.
"I think I'm voting for Barack Obama," Coffman said.
Many students agree. In an Index poll of 180 Truman students registered to vote in Missouri, 99 - just more than half - said they would vote for Obama if they participated in the Democratic Missouri primary Tuesday, Feb. 5. Arizona Sen. John McCain led the Republican party with 58 potential votes if students were to participate in the Republican primary.
Independent voters could be the key to victory for both parties. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch conducted a random poll of 800 Missouri voters early last week indicating that 26 percent of Missourians who intend to vote do not identify themselves with a political party. Comparatively, 60 students in the Index survey indicated that they do not identify themselves with a political party, but almost two-thirds of those unaffiliated voters said they plan on turning out to vote next Tuesday. Coffman said that this year, independence for her means voting Democratic.
"I tend to vote for the best candidate," Coffman said. "To be honest, I think I'm voting Democratic this year. ... The Republican party has been a big disappointment."
In addition to supporting a change of party in the administration, many students said certain issues influence their voting decisions. The Index poll indicated that the economy, the war in Iraq and health care matter most when students head to the polls.
"There's not really one top issue [for me]," freshman Gregory Steimel said. "They kind of all contribute, but I'd say the economy."
Political science professor Randy Hagerty said he's not surprised by
Please see POLL, Page 7
Continued from Page 1
the student poll results. Of the 180 Missouri students polled, two-thirds
intend to vote on Super Tuesday. Hagerty said people of all ages are interested in this election because they want change.
"I think I'm voting for Barack Obama," Coffman said.
Many students agree. In an Index poll of 180 Truman students registered to vote in Missouri, 99 - just more than half - said they would vote for Obama if they participated in the Democratic Missouri primary Tuesday, Feb. 5. Arizona Sen. John McCain led the Republican party with 58 potential votes if students were to participate in the Republican primary.
Independent voters could be the key to victory for both parties. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch conducted a random poll of 800 Missouri voters early last week indicating that 26 percent of Missourians who intend to vote do not identify themselves with a political party. Comparatively, 60 students in the Index survey indicated that they do not identify themselves with a political party, but almost two-thirds of those unaffiliated voters said they plan on turning out to vote next Tuesday. Coffman said that this year, independence for her means voting Democratic.
"I tend to vote for the best candidate," Coffman said. "To be honest, I think I'm voting Democratic this year. ... The Republican party has been a big disappointment."
In addition to supporting a change of party in the administration, many students said certain issues influence their voting decisions. The Index poll indicated that the economy, the war in Iraq and health care matter most when students head to the polls.
"There's not really one top issue [for me]," freshman Gregory Steimel said. "They kind of all contribute, but I'd say the economy."
Political science professor Randy Hagerty said he's not surprised by
Please see POLL, Page 7
Continued from Page 1
the student poll results. Of the 180 Missouri students polled, two-thirds
intend to vote on Super Tuesday. Hagerty said people of all ages are interested in this election because they want change.
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