By Myrriah Gosset
With the looming Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana primaries for the Democrats, the news coverage of the election is outstanding. After hours of news coverage and over 21 debates occurring on the democratic side, there is still a close race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. With controversy on both sides of the Democratic Party, the Dems seem to have their work cut out for them in deciding their individual nomination for president.
The race continues to be extremely tight with the delegate count. Obama has 1,644 total delegates and Clinton is close behind with 1,498. However, she leads in the super delegate count of 248 against Obama’s 226. The total number of delegates is composed of pledged delegates who, according to CNN, are “won by the candidate in the primaries and caucuses. They then pledge to support the candidate at the national conventions.”
Super delegates are “democratic office holders and party officials guaranteed national conventions seats and they support the candidate of their choice.” Each party has a different number of delegates needed in order to win the presidential nomination. The Democrats need 2,025 and John McCain has already secured the Republican nomination with 1,191 delegates. He has started making his rounds in hopes of winning the presidency, and his campaign trail has already included a stop to visit troops in the Middle East.
Now each candidate, whether they are up for the presidential vote at this time or not, wants the support of the American people. There are a number of outstanding issues facing the candidates this year. One issue that affects students is the rising cost of education.
According to an article by The Chronicle of Higher Education, McCain supports the idea of making loans more affordable and federal loans more obtainable along with “increasing the allowable level for Pell Grants.” Also mentioned is the tax plan McCain would like to install if he were to become president. That plan for education and taxes would include tax-free Education Savings Accounts for college expenses and different kinds of investment incentives for taxpayers. He does not have any details on his Web site that are accessible or easy to find on college costs or on higher education.
According to Clinton’s Web site, she has an eight-point plan to promote college access. This includes increasing the Pell Grant along with offering more scholarship money to students who participate in the AmeriCorps for a full year. She also hopes to “get rid of the red tape in financial aid,” and hold colleges accountable for keeping information available on college “graduation and employment rates and truth in tuition disclosure.”
Obama has an extensive document on his Web site detailing almost his entire plan on college education costs and reforms. This includes expanding access to the Pell Grant and has details on getting rid of FAFSA all together and creating a more streamlined and easier process for students to get the financial aid that they need. There are also plans to get rid of the private sector area of federal loans and just continue to use the publicly funded Direct Loan system to help eliminate the “more expensive private loan program and directing that money into aid for students.”
It seems the Democrats are banking on their high poll standings with college students. According to ProgressiveU.org only 19% of college students identify themselves as Republican. Obama has the largest percentage of college-aged supporters at around 65%. More information can be found on all three candidates on their Web sites and, with a little searching, more information can be found on the college costs issue as well. The last primary date is June 3, for South Dakota and Montana for the Democrats, while the Republicans have already made their choice. The campaign trail continues.
