Indecision '08 the Election and Debates
Two weeks ago Professor Richard Deese asked my American President's class how many people would vote in the election. Over half the class raised their hands. It seems as though the youth vote is strong this year, already helping secure Obama's victory in such states as Missouri and Connecticut.
Over the course of the past two weeks I have been conducting my own poll, asking random BU students around campus about the social issues they care about. Here are the results! You might find some of the answers surprising.
Election Poll of 100 random BU students:
1) Have you watched any of the debates?
YES 88
NO 12
2) Do you notice body language during the debates?
YES 76
NO 24
3) Did the debates have an effect on your perception of the candidates?
STRONG EFFECT 26
LITTLE EFFECT 59
NO EFFECT 15
4) Will you vote in the election?
YES 85
NO 15
5) Do you think Roe v. Wade will be overturned if McCain is elected?
YES 28
NO 69
3 didn’t answer the question
6) Will the candidate’s stance on abortion affect your vote?
YES 70
NO 30
7) Do you believe in gay marriage?
YES 83
NO 14
3 didn’t answer the question
8) Will the candidate’s stance on gay marriage effect your vote?
YES 65
NO 35
9) Do you think most BU students share similar political views?
YES 71
NO 27
2 didn’t answer the question
10) Compared to 20 years ago, do you think we have better or worse leaders today?
BETTER 5
SAME/NO DIFFERENCE 38
WORSE 50
7 didn’t answer
11) Would America be better off if there were more women in leadership positions?
BETTER 34
SAME/NO DIFFERENCE 58
WORSE 2
6 didn’t answer
12) How important is it that the next president should have the following traits:
Confidence:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 37 VERY IMP. 51 SLIGHTLY IMP. 4 NOT IMP. 3
5 didn’t answer
Ability to communicate well:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 73 VERY IMP. 21 SLIGHTLY IMP. NOT IMP. 1
5 didn’t answer
13) Which of the following best describes your feelings about the 2008 election?
EXCITED/HOPEFUL 47 CONFIDENT/SECURE 10
SKEPTICAL/UNTRUSTING 25 PESSIMISTIC 10 UNINTERESTED 2
6 didn’t answer
I decided to ask about gay marriage and abortion specifically because they are two of the most controversial political talking points. Many people think that Roe V. Wade is at stake in this election if McCain becomes president because of the age of the supreme court judges. If elected, he would have the opportunity to appoint judges who support his anti-abortion view and overturning Roe V. Wade. Although, out of the 100 BU students polled, only 28 thought it would be overturned if McCain is elected.
What is interesting about these results is the fact that BU has a mixed view about the election. The majority have watched the debates and plan on voting but about half have negative feelings while the other half have more positive views of the 2008 election.
Over the course of the past two weeks I have been conducting my own poll, asking random BU students around campus about the social issues they care about. Here are the results! You might find some of the answers surprising.
Election Poll of 100 random BU students:
1) Have you watched any of the debates?
YES 88
NO 12
2) Do you notice body language during the debates?
YES 76
NO 24
3) Did the debates have an effect on your perception of the candidates?
STRONG EFFECT 26
LITTLE EFFECT 59
NO EFFECT 15
4) Will you vote in the election?
YES 85
NO 15
5) Do you think Roe v. Wade will be overturned if McCain is elected?
YES 28
NO 69
3 didn’t answer the question
6) Will the candidate’s stance on abortion affect your vote?
YES 70
NO 30
7) Do you believe in gay marriage?
YES 83
NO 14
3 didn’t answer the question
8) Will the candidate’s stance on gay marriage effect your vote?
YES 65
NO 35
9) Do you think most BU students share similar political views?
YES 71
NO 27
2 didn’t answer the question
10) Compared to 20 years ago, do you think we have better or worse leaders today?
BETTER 5
SAME/NO DIFFERENCE 38
WORSE 50
7 didn’t answer
11) Would America be better off if there were more women in leadership positions?
BETTER 34
SAME/NO DIFFERENCE 58
WORSE 2
6 didn’t answer
12) How important is it that the next president should have the following traits:
Confidence:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 37 VERY IMP. 51 SLIGHTLY IMP. 4 NOT IMP. 3
5 didn’t answer
Ability to communicate well:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 73 VERY IMP. 21 SLIGHTLY IMP. NOT IMP. 1
5 didn’t answer
13) Which of the following best describes your feelings about the 2008 election?
EXCITED/HOPEFUL 47 CONFIDENT/SECURE 10
SKEPTICAL/UNTRUSTING 25 PESSIMISTIC 10 UNINTERESTED 2
6 didn’t answer
I decided to ask about gay marriage and abortion specifically because they are two of the most controversial political talking points. Many people think that Roe V. Wade is at stake in this election if McCain becomes president because of the age of the supreme court judges. If elected, he would have the opportunity to appoint judges who support his anti-abortion view and overturning Roe V. Wade. Although, out of the 100 BU students polled, only 28 thought it would be overturned if McCain is elected.
What is interesting about these results is the fact that BU has a mixed view about the election. The majority have watched the debates and plan on voting but about half have negative feelings while the other half have more positive views of the 2008 election.
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