Tag Archives: Barack Obama

Students vote for local politicians during presidential race

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In the midst of a presidential election that drew many students outside of the classroom and into the voting booths today, Nov. 6th, many local politicians are running on the same ballot as Mitt Romney and Barack Obama for a chance to represent those in the North Philadelphia community.

For those registered to vote in and around Main Campus, there are several other offices up for election.

For U.S. Senate, Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Casey Jr. is running against Republican Tom Smith and Libertarian Rayburn Douglas Smith.

For U.S. Congress, two districts split Main Campus, the 1st Congressional District lies East of Broad Street, where Democratic incumbent Congressman Robert Brady is battling Republican John Featherman. In the 2nd Congressional District west of Broad Street, Democratic incumbent Chaka Fattah is running against Republican Robert Mansfield Jr. and James Foster, an independent.

On the state level, the position of Auditor General is up for grabs between Democrat Eugene A. DePasquale, Republican John Maher and Libertarian Betsy Elizabeth Summers. For State Treasurer, Democrat Robert M. McCord is up for re-election against Republican Diana Irey Vaughan and Libertarian Patricia M. Fryman. For Pennsylvania Attorney General, Democrat Kathleen G. Kane is running against Republican David J. Freed and Libertarian Marakay J. Rogers.

In the 3rd Senate District in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which encompasses Main Campus and the surrounding North Philadelphia community, Democratic State Senator Shirley Kitchen is running unopposed. Most of Main Campus and the surrounding student community west of Broad Street find themselves within the General Assembly’s 181st Congressional District, where Democratic Representative W. Curtis Thomas is also running unopposed. Some students living north of Susquehanna Avenue between 17th and North Broad streets will find themselves in the Assembly’s 197th District, where Democrat Jose Miranda is running against Republican Steve Crum.

All voters have the option of voting for one, all, or some of the elected positions on the ballot. There is also an option to vote a straight party line, or to vote for no candidate for any office.

“I’ll be honest, I’m not very informed on that subject, I should be, but I’m not,” Charles Brown, a junior journalism major, said. “I voted among party lines.”

Fiona Allen, a sophomore communications studies major, said that while she voted for all local candidate positions, she knew less about them than she did the presidential race.

“I’m not extremely informed on local candidates at all, I was extremely concerned about with presidential election,” Allen said. “I did do a little bit of research, but it is hard because everyone is so hyped about the presidential elections.”

For information about how to find your voting place, visit votespa.com.

John Moritz can be reached at john.moritz@temple.edu or on Twitter @JCMoritzTU.

President to bring political fever to Main Campus Saturday

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President Barack Obama will be swinging into Philadelphia yet again this month, but this time he will be stopping by Main Campus.

Hosted by Temple College Democrats, the president is expected to canvas at the Student Pavilion Saturday, Oct. 30. Doors will open at 10 a.m. and there will be a security check point at 16th and Berks streets. The event is free and open to the public, but attendees are strongly encouraged to RSVP here.

Be sure to check in with temple-news.com for photos and a recap of the event.

Philadelphia welcomes a former and sitting president

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As previously reported on Broad & Cecil, former President Bill Clinton will be stopping by Main Campus tonight (Thursday, Oct. 28) to campaign for and with Pennsylvania Democratic senatorial candidate Joe Sestak. The event will be held at the Bell Tower at 8 p.m.

According to The Associated Press, gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato will appear alongside the former president. Clinton will begin in Erie, Pa., this morning and is on the Pennsylvania trail campaigning in preparation for the Nov. 2 midterm elections.

In other news: After appearing on “The Daily Show” last night, President Barack Obama will return to Philadelphia Saturday. He was last in town Oct. 10 at the Robert Fulton Elementary School in Germantown alongside Philly band, The Roots.

Be sure to check in with temple-news.com for event coverage.

Obama picks Temple to advance

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President Barack Obama filled out the official Presidential Bracket today, and he gave the Temple Owls a shot.

Obama picked Temple — and fellow city contender Villanova — to advance in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which begins this week.

The good news ends after the first round, though, as Obama predicts Temple will not defeat its second-round contender (who, pending a major upset, will be Syracuse).

Villanova, he said, will make it to the Sweet 16. But UNC will take it all.

Check out Obama’s full bracket here.

Image courtesy NBC Philadelphia.

The Underdog Prevails

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I had never heard of Barack Obama before I saw him as a guest on an episode of Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

During his interview segment, Conan talked to him about the notion that he was perhaps an underdog out of the many potential Democratic candidates preparing to make a run at the presidency.

“When your name is Barack Obama,” he mused. “You’re always the underdog.”

Tuesday, that underdog was elected the next President of the United States – thought I think it has been quite some time since anyone has called him an underdog.

I am not a Democrat or Repulican and I don’t ever plan on being either. I am registered independent, and, before this election, I really had no interest in politics. But living a city like Philadelphia, I soon came to realize that politics were about as unavoidable as traffic.

I started paying attention and understanding the necessity and importance of politics. In the process, I also found the first politician that I could trust and believe in.

His name is Barack Obama, and he’s the new President of the United States.

I wish him all the best.

Dean and Nutter bring “hope” for students

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He may not be Barack Obama, but as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Gov. Howard Dean might make a good alternate guest.

The former governor of Vermont and one time presidential hopeful (not now, the one in 2004) stopped in at Temple today to sing Obama’s praises and encourage college students to be politically engaged.  Opening for Dean was Mayor Michael Nutter, while State Sen. Shirley Kitchen and State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas also came out to show support at the Obama rally.

The theme of the event was that students should do whatever they can to help out with the election, with Dean saying that you only “get a D for voting.” He asked that students volunteer, donate (with what time they have between studying,) and make sure others are registered to vote as well. This last part received particular emphasis with only 17 days left for voter registration in Pennsylvania, a state that can still swing either red or blue.

The rally, put together by Temple College Democrats, was well attended, although one might think that more than 200 people would turn up to see such a huge political player. That said, some students had difficulty coming out in the middle of the day because of conflicts with class. Those that did make it had a chance to hear about a failing economy and an out-of-touch Republican Party, along with how Obama is seeking to change that.  Although if you were expecting a detailed outline on economic policy reform, you didn’t miss much.

Dean invoked the Obama-J.F.K. comparison, but focused more on the culture surrounding the 1960 election with the one currently running, calling them both a time of “generational change.” He also accepted what he felt was the failure of his generation in “taking time off of politics,” which he believes led to the problems of American’s today.

In his 2004 campaign for the Democratic nomination, Dean was criticized for his overzealous yelp enthusiastic cheer during a concession speech following a third place finish in the Iowa Democratic caucuses.

Keep an eye on TTN this week for a video, photo slideshow, and a full article covering today’s event.