April 21, 2008
Clinton, Obama Neck and Neck on Pa. Student-Newspaper Endorsements
A day ahead of the Pennsylvania primary, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are in a dead heat in terms of the number of official endorsements they’ve received from the editorial boards of student newspapers in the commonwealth.
So far, according to a tally at UWIRE, the score is one to one, with the University of Pennsylvania’s student newspaper backing Mrs. Clinton and the University of Pittsburgh’s picking Mr. Obama.
University of Pennsylvania students cited Mrs. Clinton’s public service, political experience, and tenacity. Those characteristics, the newspaper said, “tell us not only ‘Yes we can’ but also ‘How we can’” improve upon problems facing the nation.
At the University of Pittsburgh, the editors called Mr. Obama “an exceptionally gifted politician and leader” who can unite the country and whose “outside perspective, extensive knowledge of domestic and foreign policy and willingness to make a break from the same-old Washington politics will help to propel our country forward into a new political era.”
Student editors at Pennsylvania State University nearly broke the tie in favor of Mrs. Clinton, saying that her higher-education platform has more substance than Mr. Obama’s. But the paper stopped short of officially endorsing a candidate.
Across the country, the tally of endorsements is breaking heavily in favor of Mr. Obama. According to UWIRE, Mrs. Clinton has received endorsements from a total of four college-student newspapers, and Mr. Obama has received the backing of 46.
Sara Hebel | Posted on Monday April 21, 2008 | PermalinkComments
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Hill is getting ready to kick butt and hard.
BO is going to have to do more than rap dance before the cameras to talk his way out of this one.ouchhhh.
One weatherman down one to go…
— rus jaminson Apr 21, 03:44 PM #
My brother Joe and I are both student newspaper editors (he runs the university-sponsored underground rag), and we’ve been arguing over this contest.
I’m supporting assistant professor Mary Smith for president of the University of Pennsylvania. She’s highly qualified, having been around universities through her bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. And, now, she’s been a faculty member for several years, has served on committees, and was responsible for that petition against South African apartheid that she wanted everyone to sign in 2007. Raise your hand if you favor apartheid! Didn’t think so. Mark this down: Dr. Smith is well qualified for the Penn presidency.
Joe, being younger and less wise, supports the candidacy of a visiting instructor — John Jones — who has hardly even signed a petition, much less been the driving force behind one. Jones went through the same degree program as Mary, yes, but he’s not a regular faculty member and has only served on one committee — parking and refreshments. How does that compare to Mary’s redesign of the drop/add slip and her service on a university-wide Committee Against the Styrofoam Cup, as well as parking and refreshments (back when it was called parking and justice). Hey, folks, we’re talking about the presidency of an Ivy League school, for Pete’s sake, not some community college, and Assistant Professor Mary Smith is way more qualified than some unknown visiting instructor. Spread the word!
— S. Britchky Apr 21, 03:53 PM #