Pizza & Politics draws enthusiastic crowds to watch presidential debates

Janel Shoun | 

 
Lipscomb might as well change its colors to red and blue this fall based on the enthusiasm students have shown so far for the presidential campaign and the presidential debates held Sept. 26, Oct. 2 and Oct. 7.

The university geared up for the third debate, held in Nashville, with a continuation of the highly successful Pizza & Politics debate-watching parties in Shamblin Theatre, attended by as many as 200 people. So far the parties have drawn large crowds and garnered attention from all four Nashville television networks and The Tennessean’s presidential debate reporter.

Lipscomb's debate-watching parties are free and open to the public. Pizza and soft drinks are served shortly before the start of the 8 p.m. debates.

Click here to see more of Lipscomb's political activities this semester.

Part of the attraction has been live surveys conducted at each debate party. The post-debate results showed that the Lipscomb student vote was still up for grabs, but the latest debate showed a swing in John McCain's favor.

Check out these results (in percentages) for the question, “Who has your vote right now?”


  John McCain Barack Obama Undecided
Sept. 26      
Pre-Debate 40 30 21
Post-Debate 44 38 11
Oct. 2      
Pre-Debate 38 42 9
Post-Debate 45 40 8
Oct. 7      
Pre-Debate 51 32 11
Post-Debate 48 33 13


At Tuesday's debate, Lipscomb students were treated to observations and comments by the leaders of the Lipscomb student Republican and Democrat clubs, Zach Blair and Nathan Frisbee respectively. The two student leaders presented their comments and then lead a discussion of issues brought out in the debate.

According to Frisbee, the Lipscomb Democrat club is relatively young, having been re-formed last spring. Left-leaning students at Lipscomb have never been in the majority, he said, but the current presidential campaign sparked a desire in many students to become involved in a Democratic group.

Historian Howard Jones discussed the first debate with John Seigenthaler and students.
Former Tennessean editor John Seigenthaler
made comments after the Sept. 26 debate.
So far the club has worked hard to discuss issues of interest to students adhering to both major parties, and is holding a co-service project this Sunday for both Republicans and Democrats to take food to the homeless.

The political makeup of the students attending the debate parties is more diverse than one might expect.

Survey participants at the Sept. 26 debate party:

  • 35 percent Republican
  • 24 percent Democrat
  • 41 percent independent or other

Survey participants at the Oct. 2 debate:

  • 37 percent Republican
  • 25 percent Democrat
  • 39 percent independent or other

Survey participants at the Oct. 7 debate party:

  • 48 percent Republican
  • 27 percent Democrat
  • 25 percent independent or other

 

The live surveys show that Lipscomb students certainly plan to vote in November, with 74 percent, 87 percent and 97 percent of the participants stating they have registered to vote.

A majority of students feel the economy is the most important issue in the campaign. In the Oct. 7 debate, 58 percent of participants said they trusted McCain more on the economy and 42 percent said they trusted Obama more.
Interestingly, results from the participants at the vice presidential debate showed that 80 percent were comfortable with a woman serving as president some day, but only 46 percent agreed with the statement that Sarah Palin was ready to assume the presidency should the need arise.

Anywhere from 77 to 90 people answered the various questions in the surveys, before and after the debates. The surveys will continue to be held at the debate-watching parties tonight and Oct. 15.

On Oct. 15, Lipscomb political science professor Dwight Tays will lead the post- debate discussion.