Mock election results in at Kennesaw State

11/1/00 - Students at Kennesaw State University organized campus campaigns on behalf of the major presidential candidates this fall. The culminating event, a mock election, took place Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The mock election followed a series of campaign activities, including a convention and presidential debate. A total of 629 votes were cast in the election. Republican George W. Bush received 60.7% of the votes, Democrat Al Gore 27.4%, Libertarian Harry Browne 5.4%, Green Party nominee Ralph Nader 4.9% and Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan 1.5%.

In the straw poll that occurred prior to the Oct. 17 debate, a total of 205 votes were cast with Bush receiving 44% of the votes, Gore 30%, Nader 19%, Browne 5% and Buchanan 2%.

The campaigns began as part of a class project for the students in Assistant Professor of Political Science Kerwin Swint's campaigns and elections class. Other organizations participating in the activities included the KSU Political Science Club, Pi Sigma Alpha national honor society, the Global Affairs Society, College Democrats and College Republicans. More than 100 students were involved in planning and -more- implementing campaign activities.

Each team prepared a campaign plan, held fundraisers and rallies for its candidate, participated in the debates and initiated a public relations strategy, including press conferences, public events and banners.

The purpose of the project, according to Swint, was to provide a "lesson in democracy, especially for the political science students, who got to see what it's like to try to raise money, to increase awareness of their cause and to get people to the polls."