Spring Break
2008 elections heat up with national conventions
Omkar Baxi
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: News
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Besides formally nominating each party's candidate, the conventions will also focus on the vice presidential candidates for Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain and will facilitate discussions about the major issues facing the nation today.
According to Sean Miller, president of Drexel Democrats, Obama, the presidential hopeful for the Democratic Party, is expected to announce his running mate right before the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Denver, Colo.
"Obama is expected to announce his vice presidential candidate right before the convention starts so that more people will become excited about the convention," Miller said. "[No one] really knows who will be the VP candidate. Obama seems to have a short list of three or four candidates, who are all top-notch, and really, everyone will be happy with [the eventual candidate]."
According to Reuters, Obama's list for vice president contains three names: Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden. Most analysts also expect Obama to announce the candidate before the weekend so that the running mates can tour the key battleground states before arriving in Denver for the National Convention. Obama's vice president is expected by many political analysts to balance his lack of experience.
The Democratic National Convention will feature Obama's formal nomination as the party's presidential candidate and will focus on the party's national platform. According to ABC news, the Democratic Party is attempting to make the convention as inclusive as possible by employing technology like online streaming video.
According to Miller, one of the most interesting parts of the convention will be Barack and Michelle Obama's speeches at the Mile High Stadium.
"It really shows what Obama stands for. He isn't going to talk to just delegates in the convention. Instead, he will be addressing hundreds of regular Denver Democrats," Miller said.
As the Democratic Convention culminates Aug. 28, the political spotlight will quickly shift to Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minn., the Republican Party's national convention site.
According to Reuters, Republican candidate McCain is expected to make his vice presidential pick soon after the DNC ends, from a list that includes Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Budget Director Rob Portman and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. Analysts expect McCain's choice will attempt to add more credentials to his energy and economic policies.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a popular choice for McCain's vice president has declined any possible nomination, saying he is content with his current job.
Ivan Skakun, president of Drexel's College Republicans, said his "favorite VP candidates would be the Florida Gov. [Jeb Bush] and Mitt Romney since they offer conservative stances to support McCain's."
Besides the focus on McCain's running mate, the GOP convention is also expected to address the party's stance on offshore oil drilling, the economy and foreign policy. The GOP is planning to send e-mail alerts throughout the convention to subscribed readers.
"Energy will be the most important topic at the convention, as it has been throughout the campaign. They will probably discuss whether drilling for oil [off of American shores] should be allowed," Skakun said. "Iraq will also likely come up, both military exit strategy as well as the politics surrounding the nation."
As the election comes closer, both of the political groups at Drexel have voter registration drives and political events like debates and watch parties scheduled, according to Skakun and Miller.
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