College Paper Endorsements Back Obama, McCain For Super Tuesday Noms

This story was written by Stephen Veres, U-WIRE

Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, received 32 out of a possible 36 student newspaper editorial board endorsements so far. Students hailed his ability to motivate and excite the newly voting generation, which has proven elusive in recent presidential elections.

"Obama's inspirational, faith-based message and rhetorical magnetism resonate with Americans in a unique way," The Vanderbilt Hustler editorial board wrote. "Though not as experienced as some candidates, he has proven himself worthy with his firm refusal to cater to certain special interests at the expense of the nation -- like his vow to pay teachers on the basis of merits -- and his potential to galvanize the fractured aggregate of the Democratic Party."

Obama also garnered endorsements from The Harvard Crimson, UCLA's Daily Bruin, New York University's Washington Square News, Oklahoma State University's Daily O'Collegian and the University of Alabama's Crimson White -- all from delegate-rich Super Tuesday states.

Although students wrote Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama share similar campaign platforms, they said she would be less able to unite a divided nation. She won two endorsements from papers at George Washington University and Boston University, whose students wrote that her years of experience and leadership set her apart from the rest of the field.

"The experience card not withstanding, Obama and Hillary Clinton are nearly identical in policy," students at Colorado State's Rocky Mountain Collegian wrote. "All stops on the political spectrum are shouting change, but considering that the two same families have occupied the White House for two decades, the time for change is now. Sorry, Hillary, we believe Obama's change is better than your change."

Clinton and Obama are running neck-and-neck in the national polls. Although the student vote pushed Obama to victory in the Iowa and New Hampshire caucus, its influence has been less pronounced in more recent contests. Experts predict that the Democratic race will continue for weeks after Super Tuesday primaries.

McCain, the Arizona senator and GOP frontrunner, gained 30 endorsements from student newspaper editorial boards so far in the election season. Although many boards qualified their endorsements by saying they disagreed with McCain's policy positions, all respected his ability to hold firm to core values.

"Time and time again, McCain has received criticism from within the party for not adhering to Washington's polarized divide," The GW Hatchet board wrote. "His ability to withstand such disapproval and continue to stand for his beliefs assures this page that he would not hesitate to call things like he sees them, whether on the Senate floor or in the Oval Office."

McCain picked up endorsements from editorial boards at Boston University, the University of Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Tufts and Princeton. Students said McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, was best ready of the Republicans to lead the nation.

"He is a man with bedrock principles of honesty and fairness, and McCain is a man that can be admired by Republicans and Democrats alike due to the service for his country," students at the University of Alabama's The Crimson White wrote.

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, and Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, received three and two endorsements respectively.

To see all of the college newspaper endorsements, visit http://www.uwire.com/election-08-endorsements/.
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