by Jeremy Keck | Nov 5, 2012 | News Slider
Although the votes from all 50 states in the presidential election will be tallied on Tuesday, many feel the election comes down to one state: Ohio. The candidates’ spending shows that the Buckeye State is a major focus on Election Day. Team Obama and Team Romney have already spent a combined $128 million in TV ads in Ohio alone aimed to sway voters to their side. A lot of people outside the state may wonder, “Why has Ohio been labeled the big swing state this year?” For Drew Lykins from Marysville, Ohio, the uncertainty is common practice. “They’ve been a swing state ever since I’ve been alive,” said Lykins, a senior exercise science major. “They’ve just always been so divided, and it’s a big state being worth 18 electoral votes.” For those who want to delve deeper into the topic, Emily Haas, a Cincinnati native, offered some insight. “We have a lot of big cities,” said Haas, a double major in history and political science. “We’ve got Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Larger cities tend to lean democratic. However, we also have a lot of rural area.” All of the rural population is important to keep in mind, as farming along with manufacturing are two of the state’s major industries. Haas explained that the state’s farming residents tend to be more conservative. While Ohio may be evenly split politically, Lykins and Haas agreed that each candidate’s stance on economic issues will play a major role in the election. “The economic downturn has hit Ohio pretty hard,” Lykins said, referencing the manufacturing that takes place. “This election is very unique,”...
by Erica Aburto | Oct 2, 2012 | News Slider
Lipscomb will host a debate watch party Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 7:15 p.m. in Shamblin Theatre, welcoming the first of three debates this month between incumbent Barack Obama and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. The watch party is free and open to the general public. Pizza and refreshments will be provided, along with political insight by a panel of experts. Before the debate begins, attendants will be polled on relevant issues, submitting their answers using “clickers.” Afterwards, political experts will advise the attendants on what to look for in the remainder of the presidential race leading up to the election. After the panel of experts informs the audience about what to look for, the debate will be shown at 8 p.m. Jim Lehrer, host of NewsHour on PBS, will be moderating the debate live from the University of Denver. The debate will focus on domestic policy, with the moderator opening each of the six segments with a question and allowing each candidate two minutes to respond. To conclude the debate watch party, a political panel of experts will discuss and analyze the candidates’ performances throughout the debate. The panel will consist of former Chief of Staff to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Senate Republican Policy Committee member Tom Ingram; former congressional candidate and now Chief of Staff to Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) Lisa Quigley, and a Lipscomb student voter. Photo courtesy of the Associated...
by Cory Woodroof | Jan 24, 2012 | News Slider, Opinion
This past weekend, Republican presidential nominee Newt Gingrich surprised the nation with a staggering win in the South Carolina primary. Gaining about 40% of the overall vote, the conservative former Speaker of the House managed to pull ahead of frontrunner Mitt Romney to win the state’s election. If anything, Gingrich needed the win. With Romney claiming New Hampshire and barely losing out on Iowa –Rick Santorum recently had the race called in his favor- , Gingrich needed a strong showing in SC to reassert himself in the race. Who knew that a major controversy would help lead to Gingrich’s eventual win. Shortly before the first southern primary, Newt Gingrich’s second ex-wife, Marianne Gingrich, came forward during an interview with ABC News, revealing startling claims about the former Speaker’s past. Ms. Gingrich accused Newt of desiring an “open marriage” during their time together in the midst of an affair. We have already seen scandal destroy the campaign of one presidential hopeful. If history was to repeat itself, a storm was brewing for the Gingrich campaign. This time, history decided to be original. Just before the polls opened in South Carolina, the Republican nominee hopefuls held a final debate. The opening question came from the hot topic of the night – the “open marriage” interview. The moderator asked Gingrich if he wished to comment on the issue. Newt gave a stern reply. “No, but I will.” The crowd erupted into a standing ovation. Gingrich continued. “I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to...
