First Democratic debate a hit for USU students

On Tuesday Oct. 13, the Utah State College Democrats hosted a watch party of the first Democratic debate for about 50 students. The event, which was also sponsored by the Utah State College Republicans and the Government Relations Council, was held in one of the Old Main lecture halls.

The debate featured five Democratic candidates: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Senator Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Governor and Senator Lincoln Chafee.

They spoke on a variety of issues, from gun regulations to climate change to foreign policy.

Throughout most of the evening, the students were fairly quiet, trying to pay close attention to what the candidates were saying, but on a few occasions, loud cheering broke out over some poignant one-liners.

Hillary Clinton garnered applause from the audience when she declared that she fully supported paid leave for parents.

“I think Hillary is doing well, making calm rational points,” said sophomore Peter Harrison. He added that she seemed very confident during the debate and made a lot of excellent points.

Martin O’Malley’s statements were met with positive declarations from the audience for closing statements about how none of the candidates at the democratic debate had disparaged fellow Americans based on gender, race or religion.

Some of the students believe O’Malley’s statements made him the clear winner of the debate.

“I think he’s accomplished what he set out to do tonight, which is to get his name out there,” said junior Jace Paul.

Tyler Bowles, also a junior, agreed.

“While Bernie is making an impression, I feel like O’Malley has really been the breakout tonight,” Bowles said.

The biggest cheers of the night came for Senator Sanders. When he supported Hillary Clinton’s admonition that “we should talk about the issues that matter,” rather than focus on her recent email scandal. Specifically, he said, “We’re sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails.” Some students gave a standing ovation.

But the loudest support of all came during the section where moderator Anderson Cooper asked the candidates what they believed the greatest threat to America was, to which Senator Sanders replied, “Climate change is by far the biggest threat we are facing.”

Sanders seemed to be the favorite of students, with the overwhelming majority of students in attendance citing him as the winner of the debate.

“Sanders basically wrote the script for tonight’s debate,” said sophomore Hope Eggette.

Junior Anna Bodily also saw Sanders as a winner and one ahead in the race.

“His ideas are moving with the people’s, not against them, and he sticks up for his beliefs. I like him as a person — the raw ‘Bern’ — and his policy,” Bodily said.

What the students didn’t all agree on was which issue was the most important for deciding who the next president should be.

Some, like Paul, said that getting corporate money out of politics was paramount, while others like Cindy Smith said that gun control was most important to her.

However, most students agreed that the candidates did a good job addressing all of the issues that concerned them most.

While most students in attendance were self-identified Democrats or liberals, a handful of Republicans, libertarians and independents, as well as some political science students looking for extra credit also came to watch the debate and enjoy the free pizza.

“I think it’s important to watch the debates for both sides. That way you can make an informed decision no matter what side you choose to support,” said sophomore Jaden Smith, an independent.

— austinlabonty@gmail.com