Election Anticipation Sweeps College

10/02/2012 

SUNY Cortland is ready to take a closer look at the stretch run of the 2012 presidential election with a series of watch parties during four October debates.

The viewings, which kick off Wednesday, Oct. 3, all take place at 9 p.m. in Sperry Center, Room 106. They are free and open to the public.

Free food and drinks will be provided at each watch party beginning at 8:30 p.m.

President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, will discuss foreign and domestic policy issues in three of the debates. Their vice presidential candidates will square off in the other.

According to a recent poll conducted by The Washington Post and ABC News, the race is tight nationally. Both campaigns have acknowledged the potential impact of the debates, which could command an estimated viewership of 60 million.

The back-and-forth begins Wednesday at the University of Denver with a debate moderated by former “PBS NewsHour” anchor Jim Lehrer.

And the complete watch party schedule looks like this:

• Wednesday, Oct. 3: Obama and Romney will discuss domestic policy.
• Thursday, Oct. 11: Vice President Joseph Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan will cover foreign and domestic policy issues.
• Tuesday, Oct. 16: Obama and Romney will debate foreign and domestic policy issues in a town meeting format.
• Monday, Oct. 22: Obama and Romney will tackle foreign policy.

Approximately 1,400 SUNY Cortland students have registered to vote through the College’s “Rock the Vote!” efforts. New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), which has taken a lead role in the national voting effort on campus, hopes to secure at least 1,500 signatures by Friday, Oct. 12.

The College’s debate watch parties are sponsored by the Institute for Civic Engagement, NYPIRG, United University Professions, NeoVox and the President’s Office.