Obama backers enjoy a super Tuesday

By Zachary T. Baker

In one night, Democratic candidates in Western’s Mock Presidential Election divided up more than 2300 convention delegates, and one candidate collected more than half of them.

Barack Obama, the first-term U.S. senator from Illinois, garnered 1180 delegates. John Edwards almost jumped ahead of Hilary Clinton, but the New York senator collected 311 delegates to Edwards’ 302 delegates.

“The presidential candidates in a primary state will win delegates in proportion to the popular vote they receive,” associate professor of political science Aimee Shouse said. “So the more votes your particular candidate gets, the more delegates they will get for the next two nights.”

Before the voting, representatives of eight candidates made short speeches, then their campaign managers “traveled the country” discussing candidate strengths with students serving as delegates from different states.

This Super Tuesday was one of four evening events being held in Western’s Grand Ballroom, part of the biggest presidential mock election held on a college campus in history.

The Obama campaign had its enthusiastic members posted everywhere holding signs, cheering loudly, and appeared to be the center of attention.

“I think it’s going wonderful. We had a bake sale, a rally, we did a big wheel event, and we have a great team,” said Terri Nameenen, assistant manager for the Obama campaign. “They represented some of the great leadership that we have on campus today.”

Baker is a senior journalism major.