Quad City Times: First Vote

As hardcore supporters and curious citizens piled into the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds Starlite Ballroom last Wednesday to hear presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, news came that he would be a little over an hour late. Thinking this would result in some leaving, I only noticed chairs continuing to be filled surrounding his podium.

An hour and a half after entering the ballroom, Matthew Peters, 18, had a good basic idea on what he was looking for as Giuliani entered the room.

“I just wanted to see Rudy Giuliani to hear him speak and see if he’s a good speaker because that matters in a president,” Peters said. They should “have more about domestic views on problems and be able to connect with people, and it seems that Giuliani has shown that for the most part.”

Giuliani expressed his views relating to his 12 Commitments, a list of “I will” statements he plans to carry out during presidency. Along with his clearly spoken words and backed ideas, the former New York City mayor left plenty of time for questions. His answers usually provided a specific position on something. There weren’t any gray areas, whether it be what it takes to build a secure border or to turn around the deficit with a lower-tax method.

To those asking questions, it felt more like casual conversation as Giuliani seemed approachable with any issue, speaking without his glasses for more personal and perhaps a less intimidating feel.

He’d often squeeze out chuckles from the audience when he’d mention how crazy an idea was from Democrats, such as HillaryClinton’s suggestion to provide a $5,000 bond for every new baby born in America.

Even with Giuliani’s sense of humor and comfortable speaking character, he was able to cover a large variety of issues. However, Peters said he felt that some were covered a bit too much and others not enough.

“I thought he was clear on how alternative energy sources, such as nuclear, could be used,” Peters said. “But, I still thought there was too much on the war and not as much on global warming and the environment, which is getting to be pretty important, too.”

Mark Schwenker, Davenport West

A room full of potential voters, most of who were beyond the age of 50, chatted while they waited for Mitt Romney to appear at Davenport’s Steeplegate Inn, Oct. 17.

Some traded one-liners about Democrats while they waited. I was the odd-ball out. I felt people thought “Why is she here?” as I wished to wear a sign describing the purpose of my presence.

As Mitt Romney strolled in, the assembly rose in greeting.

Mitt Romney looked me directly in the eye and smiled. The governor seemed to notice me right away as one of the few young adults in the room.

He began with an anecdote about a 1962 Rambler given to him by his sons as a 60th birthday present, then launched into heavier issues.

“This is a campaign about changing Washington and strengthening America.”

Throughout his sermon, he continuously made eye contact with me, which made me feel important.

A fellow First Vote reporter, Bryn Lawrence, asked Gov. Romney his thoughts on voter apathy of young adults. The governor shared my feelings of perplexity about why my peers tend not to participate in the decision of who will shape their future.

As his formal presentation ended, I managed to nudge my way up to meet him. I shook his hand and he told me he was in impressed with my note taking. I described the First Vote program and he signed a personal autograph:”Elizabeth, very best, Mitt Romney,”

I asked which issue he believed to be the most important among the young voter. He said there were many issues, but put this at the top:the threat of Islamic jihad.

Elizabeth Davidson, Assumption

John Edwards doesn’t come off like a typical politician. Speaking from the bed a silver pickup truck on Oct. 7, he seemed accessible. But why can I relate to Edwards more easily than Hillary Clinton?

He throws out specific details in his speech that form a bond between himself and the crowd.

“This hot weather is because of global warming” was Edward’s opening line. It brings him down off the trucks wheel hub to my level. John Edwards thinks it’s uncomfortably warm in Davenport too.

John Edwards wants to be my personal lobbyist in Washington D.C.; he’s going to “stand up for ordinary Americans.” He offered to raise the minimum wage and strengthen union laws for the steelworker beside me. And he’s going to make it easier for me to go to college.

The supporters who came to see Edwards completely trust him to keep his word. Scott Caulpetzer was a precinct captain for the Edward’s campaign in 2004. “Edwards won’t waffle on the issues like other candidates…his position papers are clear and concise.”

Beverly Strayhall, the Scott County coordinator for the Edwards’ campaign, says that after meeting him several times, “John Edwards is exactly who he says he is.” She works every weekend canvassing Davenport’s neighborhoods.

It’s his reputation that attracts supporters like Sally Paustian. She wasn’t fully committed to Edwards, but now Sally’s been convinced. “It wasn’t completely his speech that did it.”

But I bet his accessibility helped.

Amelia Schoeneman, Rock Island High School