The Seahawk

Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: News

As the day of the election approaches rapidly, politics is becoming an increasingly discussed topic on UNCW's campus, as well as everywhere else.

Along with the commonplace subjects of John McCain's age and Barack Obama's political experience, there are several central matters that relate to each presidential candidate.

News regarding Obama's vice presidential running mate pick, Sen. Joe Biden was announced early Saturday, Aug. 23. Congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues, Biden could quite possibly balance out what many say Obama lacks.

The Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday night in Denver, Colo. with a swarm of entertainers and celebrities, including a performance by John Legend, comments from Danny Glover and an interview from Cyndi Lauper. Among the audience wearing everything from Obama T-shirts to Obama buttons were Alan Cumming, Susan Sarandon and American Idol alum Chris Daughtry.

Anticipation settled however as prime-time speaker Michelle Obama took the stage to address convention delegates and the national television audience. Not only did she speak to reemphasize her husband's remarkable potential to become the next president, but to redefine herself. She described herself as a sister, a mom, a wife and a daughter and someone who loves her country and has tried to give back to it.

As for the remaining of the week, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will speak Tuesday night and Obama's vice presidential pick Joe Biden will follow on Wednesday, featuring Former President Clinton. On Thursday, Barack Obama will accept his 2008 Democratic presidential nomination with the theme "Change you can believe in."

McCain on the other hand has yet to pick a running mate. When asked whether or not he would consider picking a vice president who is in favor of abortion rights McCain answered saying, "I will nominate a person to be vice president, my running mate, who shares my principles, my values and my priorities and that's what I can tell you," he said in a town hall meeting in Las Cruces, N.M. His current choices consist of former budget director Rob Portman, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and former Pennsylvania Governor Ridge.

As the race continues, so do the memorable campaign ads that spark debates between both parties. One of McCain's more recent ads criticizes Obama's stance against offshore oil drilling and supposed plans for higher taxes. Obama warned that McCain would use George W. Bush's economic policies if elected president.

Some would argue that these negative ad campaigns have been working to McCain's advantage. Polls show that McCain has been gaining on Obama; a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll gave Obama a three-point edge, down from six points last month, and a CBS/New York Times poll also gave Obama a three-point edge, down from six points two weeks ago.

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