College newspapers across the United States may have a lot of variety. But on this Election Day, almost all seem to have one thing in common: They support Barack Obama.
A running tally by Editor and Publisher magazine shows that of 84 college newspapers to make endorsements, all but two are backing Mr. Obama for president. The lone holdouts identified by Editor and Publisher are the Criterion, of Mesa State College in Colorado, and The Daily Mississippian, of the University of Mississippi.
The Daily Mississippian’s endorsement is the more emphatic of the two, praising John McCain for his “experience in foreign affairs and his decision to not raise taxes on anyone of any class of society.” The Criterion says it favors the Republican for his policies concerning energy, education, and the Iraq war, although it includes praise of Mr. Obama for working to hold down college costs and criticism of President Bush for his policies on public education and Iraq.
Early reports today from polling stations are suggesting record levels of turnout, a factor that often favors Democrats, both on college campuses and among the general public.
In the swing state of Pennsylvania more than 1,000 students were lined up this morning at Pennsylvania State University, according to Rock the Vote, a non-partisan advocate of youth voting. And 395 people had voted by noon, with another 179 in line, at Drexel University in Philadelphia, already exceeding the precinct’s full-day total of 425 voters in 2004, Rock the Vote reported.
Source: Paul Basken