Survey: War in Iraq most important issue for students

By Natasha Lindstrom

The war in Iraq is the most important issue in the 2008 presidential election for Santa Clara students, according to The Santa Clara's informal survey of 100 undergraduates this past week.

"We need a remedy for the situation in Iraq," said sophomore Vince Gibilisco. "We need someone with a good exit strategy, someone who has a structured idea."

Twenty-nine percent of respondents answered the open-ended question of which issue was most important to them with the "war in Iraq."

"I want us to get out of there," said senior Jessica Fox. "But at the same time, I'm worried of them leaving a black hole to chaos. I want us to be able to provide a structure, so there can be a sense of stability there."

The economy and environment tied for second at 12 percent each, followed by immigration at 8 percent of students surveyed.

Senior Dale Johnson said the economy is important to him because he comes from "a place where the neighborhood is pretty poor."

"Subprime mortgage has hit that neighborhood pretty hard," said Johnson.

Other issues garnered 6 percent or less of the votes of those surveyed, including foreign policy, health care and education.

"Health care and education are important -- you have to live and get educated," said freshman Joshua Chase. "Education's important because before we can think about the war, we have to get the basics here. And nothing should come before Americans' health."

The registered voters surveyed included 50.7 percent Democrats, 31.3 percent Republicans and 14.9 percent Independents.

An overwhelming 65.2 percent of Democrats chose to vote for Barack Obama in their state's primary.

Senior Suzie Cownie, who worked on Obama's campaign when she went home for Iowa's caucus, had a chance to meet Obama multiple times.

"It definitely impacted me being able to meet him. You could tell that he's a lot more personable than the other candidates," said Cownie, who didn't get to meet Hillary Clinton, but did meet her husband Bill while he was advocating for his wife.

"When (Obama) shakes your hand, he looks into your eyes and draws you in so you feel he has an individual connection with you. Bill Clinton was a lot more flashy."

Other students said they were drawn to Obama after watching him in the debates and other media coverage.

"I'm voting for Obama 'cause he's a badass," said Johnson. "I feel like he's a young guy who inspires hope."

Clinton garnered just 8.7 percent of the Democratic vote for the primaries. When surveyed, 26.1 percent of Democrats said they were undecided.

"The only thing I like about her (Hillary) is that she has a history of getting policies to pass -- and she seems to have a plan that sounds like it might work," said sophomore Mara Adler. "But really I think I'd still vote for Obama."

Some students said they plan to vote for Obama just because he's a better option than Clinton.

"I guess I like Obama," said freshman Natalie Lemas. "He's a democrat, and he's not Hillary."

When it came to those voting Republican, 26.7 percent said they were voting for Ron Paul in their state's primary, 13.3 percent for John McCain and 6.7 percent for Rudy Giuliani.

Registered Independent Fox said she finds McCain's military experience to be an appealing attribute.

"I like that he's (McCain) been to the war because I think it's important to fix the problems in Iraq," said Fox. "He's somebody who knows what the soldiers are going through and who's been on the frontline, instead of just getting the reports."

A majority of 53.3 percent of Republicans planning to vote in their state's primary identified themselves as still undecided.

Meanwhile, 33 percent of students surveyed said they were not registered to vote.

"I've just gotten lazy," said unregistered Gibilisco, who plans to register before the general election in November. "I haven't really gotten around to it. I haven't really seen anyone that stands out as being the next president."

Other students may share Gibilisco's sentiments. Of those registered, 38.8 percent did not plan on voting in their state's primary.

Of those voting in their state's primary, 75.6 percent said they would be using an absentee or vote-by-mail ballot.

The informal, unscientific survey included 27 freshmen, 36 sophomores, 18 juniors and 19 seniors, with 65 females and 35 males from several locations around the Santa Clara campus.

Contact Natasha Lindstrom at (408) 554-4546 or nmlindstrom@scu.edu.