President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry ended theirfinal presidential debate at Arizona State University Wednesdaynight with a difference of opinion on domestic issues.
Registered Green Party member Robert Hughes said he thought thedebate was a draw.
"Watching this from a Green Party perspective, I don't have adog in the fight," Hughes said. "Bush came across as tougher andmore aggressive than he did in the first debate. Kerry hit hardtoo; domestic issues are democrats' strong suit."
The American election system should be more open than it is withits winner take all situation, Hughes said.
Freshman Alcario Samudio, who watched the debate with the BallState College Democrats, said Bush did surprisingly well.
"Bush had some good shots - he did better than I thought hewould," Samudio said. "I think that the undecideds really like tosee the debates, because the candidates show their true identitiesand feelings."
Roger Hollands, political science professor, said the debate wasevenly matched, and both candidates gave a clear discussion of theissues.
"They were forthright in their answers and in setting out theirpositions," Hollands said. "Both closing statements were positiveand uplifting. "
Both candidates recognized the issue of division among Americansand addressed it well, Hollands said.
Regarding the question of strong women in their lives, Hollandssaid Bush and Kerry gave personal perspectives with which viewerscould identify.
"I was really glad Bob Schieffer asked that question," Hollandssaid. "They both answered that question in a very personalmanner."
Sophomore Jacob Clere said both candidates were articulate andexpressed themselves well, but their differences in ideologies wereclear in the responses they gave.
"People always ask if there was a clear winner," Clere said. "Ithink there was a clear winner in the first debate, but I reallycan't say there was for this one without adding my own bias."
Hollands said he hopes a lot of people watched the finaldebate.
"According to ABC polls, there are a considerable number ofindependents registered this year," Hollands said. "The responsesfrom independents are signifying a tie."
This election will be close, and the candidates will be spendingthe much of the remainder of their campaign efforts in battlegroundstates, Hollands said.
"This race is going to be a barn-burner, a battle down to theend," Hollands said.
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