Today's presidential election has been described as historic -- either the oldest first-term president and first woman vice president will be elected, or the first African-American man will be elected president. We may or may not learn who it is tonight.
Here are the results from the poll in my two sections of media law.
Many in my classes, 89 percent (76/85), believe Obama/Biden will win the election, while 10.5 percent (9/85) think that McCain/Palin will win. This high figure may be a reflection of the news reporting about most of the polls showing Obama with a sizable lead heading into today's election.
The responses are much closer on election hopes. Sixty-four percent hope Obama/Biden wins, while 31 percent hope McCain/Palin wins.
There appears to be good civic participation overall. Eighty-one percent have voted or plan to vote today, while 14 have not voted and do not plan to vote. Some 60 percent of the electorate voted in the 2004 Presidential Election and may observers expect many more to vote in this election. Will it reach 81 percent nationwide? I don't think so, but it may be close.
If you're curious, here are the results from the individual classes.
In the 9:30 a.m. class, 40 students said they think Obama/Biden will win the election, while four thought McCain/Palin will win the election. The vote was closer when asked about who you hope will win the election. Twenty-eight said they hoped that Obama/Biden wins, while 14 said McCain/Palin. For this question, one person indicated that he or she didn't care, and another wrote, "I have no idea" in the "Other" space.
Thirty-three students said that they have voted or plan to vote today, while seven said they have not voted and don't plan to vote. Two did not respond to this question.
In the 12:30 p.m. class, 36 students said they think Obama/Biden will win the election, while five thought McCain/Palin will win the election. Like the 9:30 class, the vote was closer when asked about election hopes. Twenty-seven said they hope Obama/Biden wins, while 12 hope McCain/Palin wins. One wrote that he or she was not a fan of either team, and another wrote that he or she hopes Ron Paul will win the election.
Thirty-six students said that they have voted or plan to vote today, while five said they have not voted and don't plan to vote.
Thanks for participating in our class poll.
These are interesting results that seem consistent with how young people nationwide have trended toward support for Obama.
Comments? Do the overall results or your class results surprise you? Do you plan on watching the elections results? If so, how will you get your news (TV, radio, Internet, next-day newspapers, etc.)? Are you sick of the election? Let me hear your voice.
18 comments:
No, the overall results don't surprise me at all. I definitely plan to watch the election results to see who will lead our country. I will most likely watch CNN. No, I'm not sick of the election, this is the first election that I have truly been excited and actively advocating about. I'm really excited to see who will win.
It is shocking to me that there are Mass Communication students who don't care enough to vote. Why are they even in this major?
The results from the class do not surprise me. After the past eight years and the downfall of the economy, the nation is ready for some improvement, hope. During the Clinton administration, the economy was up and I beleive that the U.S. has the same hopes in the current Democratic presidential nominee. Also, I remember hearing a recent poll that stated nearly 70% of all college students vote democratically. I do plan on watching the results tonight. In my opinion, this is by far the most interesting presidential election the nation has witnessed. MSNBC projects a breaking record number of people watching the election results on TV today. I will probably watch the news on TV and read news on the internet through MSNBC (the liberally biased station). I am ALMOST sick of the election but lucky for me, it is almost over!
Results from the class do not surprise me. I'm sure that Obama will win and I'm happy to see how progressive and open-minded Americans have become!
I said that I can see Obama winning but I voted that I hope McCain wins. Experience plays a huge part in dealing with foreign dictators and their histories and I just don't think Obama is qualified enough to deal with the leaders of these nations we have tabbed as possible terrorist nations. The overall consensus of students both wanting and hoping Obama would win only solidifies the opinion that media is very liberal biased. I actually plan on avoiding the news as much as I can starting at 7PM tonight because I do not want to see what I think is going to happen tonight. I would much rather watch NBA basketball which is something I NEVER DO during the early season!!!! I apologize to those who are liberal but I feel that if Obama wins, this country is going to be royally screwed.
I'm not that surprised about the results because most college students support Obama, although I am surprised at how many people out of our class that are not voting. I would expect everyone to feel like their vote is important just like I did. Although I'm so sick of the election, I've still been keeping track of the results on tv all day. I'm anxious to find out who will be our next president, because I know that either one of the candidates is going to help the economy get back on track.
The numbers speak for themselves, Obama will win! This if by far the most interesting election and i'm glad to be a part of it. I will be following the election via internet.
The overall results and my class results do not suprise me. The one thing that does suprise me is that there are students that responded by saying that they did not or do not intend to vote. Why? I can't think of one single good reason.
Yes, I plan on watching the election results. In fact, I planned my evening around it. My husband and I cooked dinner at the house instead of eating out, and we've been sitting on the couch watching the results. I've been getting online here and there to see what's new on CNN during commercials. I intend to stay up wayyyy past my bedtime until the bitter end- whatever time that may be.
No, I'm not sick of the election. I think it's exciting. It's history in the making, and it's something that I'm proud to be a part of.
The overall results do not surprise me one bit. I knew Obama was the overall favorite, he did a good job of inspiring the youth. I watched the election on CNN from 5 p.m. when I got out of class until probably tomorrow. I knew Obama would win the real election also. McCain's speech was good, I don't like that he said it was his failure, that's not true.
I honestly got a little tired of the election coverage, I feel like it was on repeate all the time, there were really no new facts coming out. But I mean I wouldn't really have it any other way because this is arguable the most important election in a long time.
Katie Cummins 12:30 class
CHANGE....will be the only thing left in our pockets for the next 4 years?
...no but on a serious note, I'm not surprised that Obama won. He's a great speaker and I can tell that the American people want to listen to (and vote for) someone who helps them to believe that things can be better. To be honest, I wasn't really a fan of either candidate, (though, kudos to McCain for a great speech after Obama won!. I don't mean to diss Obama...but I do, however, think people put too much hope and faith into the President. He's just one man. To be honest, he's not really in control of the fate of our country, he CAN make some changes and he CAN promise lots of things...but if we want someone reliable and consistent to cling to and believe in...how about God instead of Obama?
The results don't surprise me either. I think, or hope, some people are realizing we need change. After last night, I now know that people are ready for change. This makes me very happy.Obama is a great speaker and a great man. I was not a fan of McCain, but he definitely has my respect for the speech he made after Obama won. It was a very great night and I hope Obama is victorious in the Oval Office as well.
I am proud to have taken part in history! I am shocked that more students did not vote! I guess since I am a female I see it as a right that many people fought for. The election is over and the people have spoken; time for change and a new direction.
I was very curious to who would win this election this year, everyone was much more involved. I stayed up last night and switched back and forth between ABC and CNN until it became official. To his credit, I thought John McCain's speech was very good.
(9:30)
What an exciting night! I am so excited about our new funky president. I have been following the election for two years. February 23, 2007 I stood a few feet away from Obama, and that is probably the closest I will ever get. I am very disappointed in the attitudes of most all of the Republicans. I am also saddened by local morning radio DJ's and their comments towards Obama. Race or religion seems to be the hot topic of insult towards the President elect. I am trying to keep my lashbacks inside, but I just want to say- Too bad, so sad. As for the non-voters out there, ouch. Really? Get off your butt and perform your civic duty. Too late now. I held back the tears as the Obama family walked onto the stage and the thousands gathered cheered them on. Save your newspapers from today so you can show your children and grandchildren that you were a part of history.
spelling error: Toward, not Towards. Whoops!
When people over the age of 35, my boss, my parents etc. ask if I voted I say yes. When I say yes, they look at me and congradulate me. It is such a shock to them at how many young adults voted in this years election. It may not have turned out the way some people wanted, and yes some of the republicans have reacted rather poorly, but this was definatly a historic election and will go down in the history books.
Sara Scher
I am not surprised with the way the class swung with their hopes of the winner of the presidential race.People are sick with the state of the nation currently and want to see a change.Obama seems to be that hope for many, but i suspect that he is underqualified to be president. I think that many nations will see this and take advantage of the opportunity once the democrats begin down-sizing our military like they always do.It was a somber day for me to watch the results run in and i have my own ideas as to why obama won the election, but you arent asking for that so i will merely keep to the subject of what i have already talked about.--not surprised obama won and not surprised the class swung that way either.
I didn't vote because I wasn't registered in this county. I had planned to go to Laredo (my hometown) to vote, however, due to a busy schedule I was unable to make the 3 hour trek south during early voting. It wasn't that I didn't care to vote, I just couldn't get down to Laredo before election day. When considering to drive the day of of and drive back for school that same day, I felt it would be a waste of gas to go cast my vote because Texas is predominantly a Red State.
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