NAC students

hold mock presidential debate, mock vote

By MICHELLE BESAW

ELLENBURG -- A day after the second presidential debate, students at Northern Adirondack Central School participated in their own.

A collaborative effort from classes for public speaking, digital media, senior government and eighth-grade American history brought to life a mock presidential debate in an attempt to educate and empower students on their right to choose.

PLAYING THE PART

Seniors from the public-speaking and government classes dressed up as Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden and Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin and argued the key issues in front of an auditorium of students from grades 6 through 12.

And from the sounds of it, Obama had the edge among the audience.

"He's African-American, and it would be really cool if we had the African-American president," eighth-grader Daniel Davis, 14, said of the presidential candidate.

Since studying the candidates, Davis said, he knows more about them and the voting process, something he says every young person should know.

"It's good to be educated."

But it's not just Obama's race that won him support among the students.

Senior Sarah Brunell, 17, said she leans more toward the Democratic side because she likes Obama's stand on tax cuts and feels he is more qualified.

Brunell, who aspires to be a math teacher someday, said being educated about politics has sparked her interest.

"We're going to be voting soon," she said.