University of Evansville Magazine - Fall 2008 - (Page 7)

# ## ## # ### # ## # # # ## # # ## ## ## # # # # # # ### Then, on the eve of the primary, the UE campus received a surprise – an early morning visit from one of the candidates, in person. Shortly before 7:00 a.m., Barack Obama pulled up in front of the construction site of UE’s new Ridgway University Center, where he was set to greet workers as they arrived for their Monday shift. Obama shook workers’ hands, spoke for a few minutes, then greeted UE President Stephen Jennings before heading back to his motorcade. Then, seeing a group of UE community members gathered across the street, he bypassed the car to shake more hands. After all, in this year’s primary, every vote counted. “This region, in particular, was extremely hotly contested in the Democratic primary,” Dion said. “You know the stakes are high when former President Bill Clinton flies in to make remarks in Boonville.” There is reason to believe that Indiana’s – and Evansville’s – prominence will not end with the primary season. While the Tri-State never saw John McCain (or any other Republican candidate) since that nomination was sown up long before the Hoosier primary, either he or Obama may decide to visit the region during the general election. While Indiana has gone Republican every year since 1964, Dion said the state appears to be in play this year. “Right now, the polls are tight in Indiana,” Dion said. “Obama already is playing ads here, and all indications are that John McCain will have to fight to win here.” All of which means the University could be a hot spot come election time. Either way, Dion is expecting his telephone to start ringing again as the election draws closer. In the meantime, he is keeping busy with other engagements, including a recent appearance at the University of Montreal. “It was a session devoted to the United States and what will happen after President Bush leaves office,” Dion said. “There were speakers from Yale, the University of Virginia, California State at Long Beach, several political big shots from Quebec, and me. My topic was how the media will influence the presidential election. “And, as if the other presenters didn’t make me nervous enough, the political director of the Canadian Broadcasting Get Connected before You Vote Site: Project Vote Smart Address: www.votesmart.org Content: Dubbed the “Voter’s SelfDefense System,” Project Vote Smart – which visited the University of Evansville campus in April – offers everything you want to know about every candidate on your ballot. As an added bonus, the site features information on how to register to vote in all 50 states. Site: The Pew Forum on Religion and Politics Address: www.pewforum.org/religion08 Content: A nonpartisan look at the 2008 presidential election, with a slight bent toward religious issues. A “Compare Candidates” section allows users to choose an issue and read both candidates’ stances on that issue. Site: FactCheck.org Address: www.factcheck.org Content: This site is dedicated to debunking political advertising and myths in presidential campaigns. Each ad is dissected; each claim is examined. If those behind the site do not answer the question you have, there is an “Ask FactCheck” section. Site: PresidentialElection.com Address: www.presidentialelection.com Content: A primer on all things politics, PresidentialElection.com offers general information on the coming election, including dates, how to register to vote, links to read up on a specific issue, campaign finances, and who has filed for election. Corporation was there to speak after me, and critique my talk!” Dion came away from that event with good reviews (and a dinner invitation from the CBC political director), and the sense that people are becoming more interested in American politics – a trend, he said, that is not just apparent in foreign countries. The last two elections have seen tremendous increases in voter turnout, and there is every indication that this year’s turnout will be even larger. “The reason for that, I think, is that people understand that the stakes are very high,” he said. “Plus, they’ve seen, from the last two elections, that every vote counts. You can’t watch Florida in 2000 and not recognize that.” That is why Dion regularly urges everyone, no matter where they live, to vote this year. With more states in play than ever before, every vote truly does count. I This year’s election will take place Tuesday, November 4. # ## w w w. e v a n s v i l l e . e d u # # ## # ## # # # ## # # ## # ## # # # # 7 ### http://www.FactCheck.org http://www.factcheck.org http://www.votesmart.org http://www.PresidentialElection.com http://www.PresidentialElection.com http://www.PresidentialElection.com http://www.pewforum.org/religion08 http://www.evansville.edu

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of University of Evansville Magazine - Fall 2008

University of Evansville Magazine - Fall 2008 Table of Contents Campus Connections Election Connections Where Are They Now? Stanley Says Aces A Program to Bank On Campaign Connections New Connections Alumni Connections

University of Evansville Magazine - Fall 2008

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