Prolific Pennsylvania

Donkeys are running wild in our great Commonwealth, and rightfully so.

The Pennsylvania Primary was this Tuesday the 22nd, and it was make or break time for the candidate’s. Both have fought hard all the way from the Iowa caucuses to all across the country.

Pennsylvania is the sixth largest democratic delegate holding state with 179, only surpassed by Schwarzenegger’s Cah-li-for-ni-yah with 439, Clinton’s New York with 287, The Lone Star State (Texas) with 232, Florida with 210, and Obama’s Illinois with 187. With all of these states results already taken care of, Pa stands alone. Click here for previous elections and results.

Pennsylvania is the largest state (delegates wise) left to have their primary, and both candidates are doing whatever it takes to get those 179 delegate votes. The next largest state in line is North Carolina with 108 delegates on May 6th.

The last 10 primaries/caucuses have seemingly been dominated by Obama winning seven out of the last ten, yet he has only won two out of the last five. These last eight states are up for grabs and whoever can pluck the primary peach tree in Pennsylvania could possibly run away with the nomination.

There are 816 Democratic delegate votes up for grabs in the last eight states, and this years Pennsylvania primary is prolific. With these high stakes, are college students seizing the day and making their vote matter? Or are they staying true to form and remaining apathetic?
The price of gas is a hot topic in this upcoming election, and it may in fact affect the primaries. Amanda Bowers, [www.wcupa.edu/ West Chester University] senior and registered democrat in Pennsylvania is realizing the seriousness of gas prices. Bowers claims, “Gas is a factor! To be honest I can not afford to drive home that much even though it’s not that far.” In this election, it may be possible for candidates to be missing out on votes because students can’t afford to drive home to their polling stations.

While others attempt to go the extra mile to go home and vote like Amanda, others still hold true to the apathetic student voter and remain unregistered such as Andy Knerr, Lehigh University junior believe, “ It is only one vote … My vote will not change the results of the primary.” Some things will never change…

But not all students think their vote does not matter. Michael Johnston, West Chester University senior has voted in every election since he was 18 and votes because he likes to, “ Assume I have a say. Regardless, I would like to think the “dems” are gonna take it in the end. It’s time for a little bit of a change…a BIG change.”

UC Junior Nicole Christian feels Mike’s need for a change. She voted on primary day for many reasons, one being, “ I am not a Bush supporter and I’m tired of republicans like him being in office giving tax breaks to the rich and sending our troops to die in a pointless war just so we can flex our ever decreasing muscles of power.”

According to AOLNews.com both candidate’s need 2025 to win the nomination and the current standings put both Obama and Clinton 139 votes apart with Obama leading with 1643 votes collected. There are 563 Democratic delegate votes up for grabs in the last eight states.
For example the highly popular Colbert Report made its first remote location shoot to the University of Pennsylvania campus on 37th and Walnut and shot there during the week of April 14th.

Stephen Colbert brought special guests in the show such as Governor Ed Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter, first lady hopeful Michelle Obama, and even the infamous Ben Franklin impersonator. Governor Rendell has already publicly endorsed Clinton, and did so on The Colbert Report.
The remaining eight states in order are: Pennsylvania on April 22nd, Indiana and North Carolina on May 6th, West Virginia on May 13th, Kentucky and Oregon on May 20th, and finally Montana and the home of Mount Rushmore, South Dakota on June 3rd. It may be too late to vote in Pennsylvania, but there is always the presidential election in November. If one has questions about registering, or other new voter questions, click here for a PDA put out by the Department of State of Pennsylvania.

The remaining eight states in order are: Pennsylvania on April 22nd, Indiana and North Carolina on May 6th, West Virginia on May 13th, Kentucky and Oregon on May 20th, and finally Montana and the home of Mount Rushmore, South Dakota on June 3rd. It may be too late to vote in Pennsylvania, but there is always the presidential election in November. If one has questions about how they can register, or other new voter questions, click here for a PDA put out by the Department of State of Pennsylvania.

For full results of the Pa Primary, click here and get informed.