Senate candidates leave impression but fail to change minds

NEWARK–Bathed in darkness, 75 students kept their eyes on a large screen as U.S. Senate candidates Chris Coons (D) and Christine O’Donnell (R) traded punches during their 90-minute debate Wednesday night. The debate was co-hosted by Delaware First Media and the University of Delaware’s Center for Political Communications and co-moderated by DFM’s Nancy Karibjanian and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

Unable to get tickets, many of these students decided that watching the debates together would be more exciting than viewing them alone at home. So they filled 303 Gore Hall and in mostly respectful silence watched the candidates on live nationwide TV share their views on issues ranging from immigration to gays in the military to alternative energy.

Supporters of Coons or O’Donnell clapped and cheered as their candidate landed a punch, but mostly they listened in respectful silence.

As Coons discussed building an Islamic community center close to the 9/11 Ground Zero site in New York City, a man in the audience shouted, “Wake up. Wake up.”

A woman sitting at a desk next to him responded angrily, “Don’t you believe in freedom of religion?”

The tension in the room increased, but as the candidates to moved to different issues, people settled back into their chairs and focused again on the screen.

“It’s been enticing,” said Rob Furr, as he left the room 30 minutes before the debate ended. The chemical engineering student said he had put off studying for as long as possible, but his homework was calling. This is the first year Furr has really gotten into politics. A member of the College Republicans, he said it’s also the first year that politics had a real impact on him.

“Now it actually effects my life,” he said. “It’s exciting that it’s happening here.”

Furr expected a “jarring” debate, but he said he was pleasantly surprised.

“I’m honestly impressed with Christine more than I expected,” he said. “She held her own in the debate.”

Brendan Floyd, 20, also was impressed with O’Donnell. “I thought she did quite well,” he said.

The national and international attention on the debate was almost as exciting, Floyd added. “It’s great publicity for the university. It makes politics less of a sideline thing and more of a reality. It’s almost empowering to have this here on campus.”

Chris Anderson also was grateful for the opportunity to see the debate. “It’s great we’re able to see the debate in person,” he said. “I thought it was interesting. It was good to see both candidates.”

The graduate student in public administration left the debate ever more convinced that he wanted Coons to win the election. “Went in liking Coons,” Anderson said. “I didn’t hear [O’Donnell] say she was going to do anything.”

Nick Jenner, 22, also wanted to hear O’Donnell’s viewpoints on issues, but he said he left unsatisfied. He was concerned that people will view Coons as condescending to his female opponent. “I was interested to hear him address her so sharply,” he said. “He was very direct to make her stay on point.”