Oct. 19 marked the final of a series of three presidential debates between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. There are now only two weeks until Election Day. But even with little time left, some students remain unimpressed with either of the candidate’s debate performances.
“I watched the first two debates, along with some of the third debate. I feel that both candidates tended to focus on attacking each other, rather than answering the questions and defending their responses,” senior and undecided voter Alex James said.
According to a CNN/ORC poll, 52 percent of debate watchers believed Clinton won the debate, while 39 percent believed Trump won. Debate watchers believed Trump’s attacks on Clinton were fair by a margin of 55 to 43 percent. Watchers also believed Clinton’s attacks on Trump were fair by a margin of 63 to 34 percent, indicating that voters remain skeptical of both major presidential candidates.
Even aside from the debate, neither candidate has stood out to students, as many seem disappointed at their antics.
“Both of the candidates, especially Trump, seem to spend most of their time on personal attacks, and don’t focus enough on their viewpoints regarding important issues,” James added. “However, Hillary definitely isn’t without her faults, and she has enough of her own controversy.”
While most remain disappointed, some still feel hopeful about the future of America.
“I feel like this country is still on the right track,” Metea graduate and Clinton supporter Tooba Hussain said. “Obama has done some really things, but if Trump is elected, this country is going to suffer.”
With the major two candidates failing to impress, some are looking to other direction, or even resorting to not voting. According to an IBD/TIPP tracking poll, these students aren’t alone. 25% of 18-44 year olds are voting for either Gary Johnson, Jill Stein, another candidate, or are undecided. But voters are still unconvinced.
“I have looked into [third parties] and I don’t agree with their stances. Both [Stein and Johnson] have a very small chance of winning anyway. Third parties have never won the presidency,” Hussain said.
“I have looked into both Jill Stein and Gary Johnson, but they aren’t without their faults, such as Johnson’s ‘Aleppo moment’. But even with these faults, they are still viable candidates and should be considered by voters,” James said.
Election Day takes place Nov. 8, where a predicted record high turnout of voters will take to the polls to decide on who their representatives, president, and senators will be for the next two, four, and six years, respectively.
Matt • Oct 26, 2016 at 1:53 pm
All in favor of resurrecting Franklin Delano Roosevelt to be president and resurrect Theodore Roosevelt to be Vice President say AYE!
Cian28 • Oct 26, 2016 at 10:28 am
Only the top % of students have a say in politics, it’s funny to see those < 18 try to make a deal out of something that they don't get a say on (myself included). Due to this, I hereby state th-
[*This comment has been deleted by Meteamedia due to expressing the truth about school politics*]
ANOMUNOUS • Oct 25, 2016 at 1:55 pm
I wrote a poem
Trump is racist
Clinton is evil
why did we vote for them
and not other guys
the independents arent any beter
but id rather take them ove
the evil pair.
:D • Oct 25, 2016 at 12:25 pm
They need to stop the presidential election because Hillary Clinton is not a good representative of women and also she want to go to war with Russia and Syria. Donald Trumps is also as bad as Hillary Clinton too. That why they need to stop there election.
Abraham Lincoln • Oct 25, 2016 at 11:46 am
I foresee the 2016 election to be akin to the 1860 election: with four major candidates rather than two.
A HATR • Oct 25, 2016 at 8:41 am
They both suck why did people vote for these guys.
Ethan • Oct 25, 2016 at 11:39 am
I don’t know ask everyone in the US than you might know…
Killian Kenny • Oct 25, 2016 at 7:23 am
Both of these people need to re-evaluate what they have to say. On one hand we have a person who gives off the impression of an 11 year old stuck in an adult’s body. On the other; an angry, racist, mutant tangerine. The candidates really need to see the error of their ways before entering office.