Professors discuss electoral issues

It ain't over 'til it's over -- or is it? In this, the closest election in recent memory, the one thing that's become certain is that nothing is for certain. This was one of the major themes examined by Political Science Professors Jack Nagel and John DiIulio in a panel discussion in Hill College House last night. Nagel and DiIulio spent an hour discussing the current struggles for the presidency and Congress in Hill's Bache Library, taking questions from the 25 students in attendance. The discussion, organized and moderated by Hill's Interim Faculty Master Walter Licht, began with the speakers' assessments of the presidential race and the major candidates' chances of winning. Both agreed that Bush is most likely to win, but DiIulio focused on the popular vote and Nagel on the Electoral College, especially the "swing states" that will decide the outcome of the election. DiIulio, who has worked as an advisor to both the Bush and Gore campaigns, said, "It gives me a great deal of pain as a political scientist," on the possibility of a Bush presidency. He began his part of the presentation by asking the audience to join him in repeating, with exaggeration, the word "Dubya." That word, he said, will likely be on the mouths of Americans in five days. Of Gore, he said, "Gore is the tragic figure of this race. He is an incredibly smart man... incredibly passionate," but he is running as if "seeking a promotion from vice president." Nagel, meanwhile, often made reference to the Electoral College system, which may be a subject of examination if the results contradict those of the popular vote. "Whoever carries Pennsylvania is very likely to win the election," Nagel said. He also said the unusual system is the result of a "bizarre deal" between factions involved in drafting the Constitution. This led to a discussion of the system's merits and of proposed alternative systems. These include a direct popular vote; a ranking system that allows for instant runoffs; and the "approval vote" in which voters may vote for as many candidates as they wish. The latter two systems have the advantage of producing outcomes closer to the overall will of the people. Medical School student Hardave Kharbanda watched with a strong interest in the candidates' health-care plans, especially for children. He said, "I believe Gore when he says he'll improve childrens' health care in the next four years." The professors also addressed the primary and congressional elections. DiIulio mentioned that John McCain was, and is, immensely popular when visiting college campuses, but at the primaries, "The younger voters didn't show up for John McCain." Nagel said that among the Republicans, the signal to coalesce around a candidate was inheritance. "They believe in the divine right of succession."