By
Rebecca Missel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Campus leaders don't take 'too close to call' for an answer
With the electoral college results stalled due to a mandatory recount in Florida, many student voters were frustrated yesterday with the lack of a final presidential count.
"I wish they'd just count the votes and get it over with," said William Higgins, an undeclared freshman.
Yet others said the election was already decided by campaign tactics.
"Bush put on a show and a good, decisive campaign," said Matt Johnson, a mathematics freshman. "Gore was slacking."
Close elections are a part of American presidential history, said Barbara Norrander, professor of political science.
In 1876, Congress had to appoint a special committee to determine whether some returns were authentic or not, and the election was decided by one electoral vote. Newspapers incorrectly reported that Thomas Dewey defeated Harry Truman in 1948.
However, there have not been any recounted elections in recent history, Norrander said.
"This is a situation where the public is evenly divided and there's no real national trend toward support," she said.
Norrander said a change to the electoral college's structure would be unnecessary and is unlikely because it requires a Constitutional amendment.
"It (the electoral college) works the way it is supposed to work," she said.
Early in the evening, Florida's 25 electoral votes were given to Vice President Al Gore. Later, those votes were reassigned to Gov. George W. Bush, giving him the presidency.
However, at about 2 a.m., election officials in Florida decided to recount all the state's votes, and by yesterday evening, no decision had been made.
"When results called it for Bush, I was devastated," said Melinda Mills, president of the Young Democrats and a political science junior. "Now, at least they (the Republicans) feel what we felt."
Mills said the results are "fishy" because Bush's brother Jeb is the governor in Florida.
"In any other state, it would not be this big of a mess," she said. "Jeb Bush is not an evil man, but he's certainly an influence."
Many students involved in the campaigns sat by televisions and Internet sites for much of the night, hoping to hear who had won.
Manuel Espinoza, president of the College Republicans and political science junior, stayed up until almost 4 a.m., waiting for conclusive results.
"It's excruciating to go through this," he said. "We're in a state of confusion."
One of the primary lessons from this election is the importance of just a few votes, Espinoza said.
"I hope, if nothing else, this shows everyone that your one vote does matter," he said.
