100 Gamecocks and organization leaders polled give their opinions on the presidential candidates
Presidential candidates such as Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Rick Perry have recently stopped on our doorstep campaigning for USC students’ votes in the 2012 presidential election, which is quickly approaching.
The Daily Gamecock interviewed 100 USC students to see who they wanted in office in 2012.
Forty-five percent of those surveyed said they wanted President Barack Obama to be re-elected next year. Some of his supporters say that his policies need more time in order to be properly implemented.
“If you stop [Obama] now and bring in a new leader, it will just mess everything up,” first-year business student Cameron Razzaghi said.
Fourth-year criminal justice student John Laferriere said that there is still work that needs to be done, but he is leaning toward Obama.
“He has a more focused plan,” he said. “A lot of other candidates don’t have a long-term plan.”
Other responses, however, show that among USC student voters, Obama won’t go uncontested.
Seven percent of those surveyed said they wanted Rep. Ron Paul to win. The Texas Republican congressman had students appreciating his policies of small government and frugal spending.
“I agree with his policies on limited government,” said Seth Stewart, a fourth-year marine science student. “The government has gotten too big to function well.”
Mitt Romney landed at six percent and four percent of students polled went for Rick Perry. Perry’s Republican roots as a Texas governor and Romney’s moderate views directed some students to their favor.
“[Perry]’s a conservative and knows what’s good for America,” second-year history student Tony Chiarello said.
Rep. Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman both reached 2 percent of those surveyed. Ryan Copko, a fourth-year biology student, said that he wants the former Utah governor and ambassador to China to win for his foreign and domestic experience, among other reasons.
“He’s the only candidate with experience and knowledge on China, whose economy will be a growing problem, he has an 80-percent approval rating in Utah and he’s not associated with the Tea Party,” Copko said.
Ham Hollett, a fourth-year entrepreneurship and marketing student, said that he would pick Ron Paul but he is still “indifferent” to the elections.
“I feel like everything that comes out of a politician’s mouth is crap,” Hollett said.
The remainder of those surveyed gave no specific names but instead more broad and blind answers, such as “not Obama” or “the Republicans.”
“I’m probably not going to vote for Obama because he hasn’t done really anything that has helped the United States as a whole,” said Benjamin Gaddy, a third-year computer engineering student. “I don’t think he’s doing the right job.”
Of those surveyed, seven percent said “not Obama” as their 2012 choice. Six percent said that they just wanted a Republican to win, while 2 percent said “not the Republicans.” Five percent either said they are undecided, or “anyone but Sarah Palin.”
A few students were rather cynical with their responses. Although first-year computer science student Jordan Avery said that he would go for Obama, he was not too optimistic about it.
“Regardless of who the president is, the country’s going to suck,” Avery said.
The political party organizations on campus were strategic with their responses. College Republican President Sean Bertran would not release his personal choice.
“Our club must remain unbiased,” said Bertran, a fourth-year political science student.
College Democrat President Victoria Black said that Obama is doing what is best for the nation.
“I think he’ll win because the Republicans are very fragmented,” said Black, a fourth-year English student.
International Socialist Organization President Marc LaFleche said that he is undecided right now and that both Democrats and Republicans are for “materialistic goals.”
“It’s all about expanding as a global power instead of peace and democracy. I’m not happy with that,” he said. “Humanitarianism is a myth as far as I’m concerned.”
International Students for Social Equality President Rosa Fuller said that she would only support a candidate put forth by the Socialist Equality Party.
“Only the Socialist Equality Party is uncompromisingly calling for measures the working class really needs, such as automatic forgiveness of student loans, free education and health care, guaranteed access to housing and utilities, a massive jobs program to put the unemployed back to work, adequate leisure time and a secure retirement,” Fuller said in an email.