Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE — William Kouame watched the presidential debate from his seat in front of the TV at Bart & Urby’s on Monday night
When asked why he felt it was important to watch the debate and to be involved in the political process, Kouame said he was a politician from birth, but not an American.
In 1981 he came to the country from Ghana, West Africa, intending to stay for a short time. He is now an American citizen.
Kouame, a supporter of Hillary Clinton, cited the need for funding for education, sound foreign policy and sustaining of infrastructure as the basis for his choice.
Kouame, a Christian, said many Christians automatically vote Republican because of the pro-life platform.
“That is not a real issue,” he said. “We need to care for people throughout their entire life.”
Kouame expressed appreciation of the American bipartisan system.
“We have security, job opportunities and stable infrastructure,” he said. “In third world countries, the infrastructure is crumbling and the unemployment rate is as high as 40 percent.”
He thought Clinton came out on top in the debate. She was poised and presented a sound economic policy, he said.
A few blocks away from his Wilkes University dorm room, Mark Mahmod believed that Donald Trump had definitely got the best of Clinton.
“I believe Trump is basically running the table because he is making much more sense in regard to economic policy than Hillary is, ” the Wilkes sophomore from Mahonoy City said.
Mahmod added he was excited to be on a college campus amidst such an important debate and election.
“I’m very happy that people are discussing issues,” he said.
Wilkes freshman Joshua Bradley, of Pittsburgh, gathered with other members of the Wilkes Political Society at the university’s library for the debate.
Bradley was concerned about the rising cost of education.
Bradley, who holds both American and British citizenships, said he had researched the price of college tuition, which he said has risen disproportionately when measured against inflation in the last few decades.
Clinton, he said, would be much more likely to provide an opportunity for members of the middle class to have an opportunity for higher education.
“We need to build and not gut the middle class,” he said.
Kyle Snyder, a sophomore political science major and a vice president of the club, identified himself as a centerist who is open to both political parties.
In this election, he will be voting for Clinton.
“Both candidates are flawed,” he said. “But I believe she’s more forward and focused in addressing social issues.”
Nick Candarella, a Wilkes freshman and a Trump supporter, made his way across campus holding an ice cream and heading to his dorm room to watch the debate.
Candarella, who said he hopes to be a member of Congress by 35, said he is a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.
“We need to repeal the affordable healthcare act,” he said. “It places an increased burden on taxpayers contrary to sound economic policy.”
At a desk in the basement of the Wilkes library, Jared Rasmussen and Erin Green, both freshman nursing students, were watching the debate on the internet as they studied for upcoming exams.
“I’m actually listening and watching, trying to learn something about the candidates,” Green said. “I’m thinking that I don’t like either one.”
Okla Elliott, Ph.D., an English professor at Misericordia University, said historically debates don’t significantly change people’s political allegiances.
“Even in the most dramatic debates, the polls often change just slightly,” he said.
Looking back, he said the debate with the most impact was the Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960.
“Nixon refused to wear makeup,” he said. “So people thought he looked weak and pale. Those who watched on TV thought Kennedy had won, but those who listened on the radio thought that Nixon had won.”
That impact, he said, was made by candidate presentation and not by the content of what was said.
Elliott said he was impressed with Trump’s composure during the early part of the debate.
The most damaging portion of the debate, he said, came from Clinton.
“When she was questioning the impact of what might potentially be reflected in Trump’s tax returns … I think that might have drew support from voters,” he said.
Clinton questioned what the impact of the return would be if it reflected Trump owing significant amount of money to foreign countries or to financial institutions.
As the debate closed Michelle Kessler, a Clinton supporter, said her support for Clinton had been solidified.
“I actually just announced that I love Hillary on Facebook,” she said. “She was everything I thought she’d be.”
Amanda Hrycyna|For Times Leader
Amanda Hrycyna|For Times Leader
