Illustration by Arnie Bermudez

Since the Iowa primary two days ago, the field of Democratic hopefuls in the presidential race has changes substantially. One major contender, Dick Gephardt, withdrew his candidacy, while another, John Kerry, received a huge boost from a solid victory. Electoral realities aside, which of these candidates would do the most if elected president? We asked our columnists: Whose side should we be on, anyway?

Jennifer Kursman columnist

Dennis Kucinich delivers on student issues

While other democratic candidates have adjusted their positions depending on the public mood, Dennis Kucinich has remained a steady advocate of issues that are important to students. Kucinich was the first real antiwar candidate and even proposed creating a Department of Peace; he was the ringleader of the House Democrats who opposed the war, but then Dean took all the credit.

Kucinich treats as primary college students' needs. He has a plan to vastly reduce the cost of higher education tuition without raising taxes or cutting university budgets; he would repeal Bush's tax breaks for the wealthy to pay for this educational aid. In addition, Kucinich supports a woman's right to choose, creating jobs for middle-class Americans, and an end to the "drug war." When it comes to firearms, Kucinich cosigned a bill to sustain the Federal Assault Weapons Ban; Dean has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association eight times.

Finally, Kucinich is the only Democratic candidate who voted against the most abominable bill passed by the Bush administration ÷ the insidious Patriot Act.

Does Kucinich have a snowball's chance in hell at winning the Democratic nomination? Of course not, because he doesn't have millions of dollars to spend on his campaign like Dean does. But Kucinich is the only candidate who supports his claims with comprehensive plans for change, rather than the hollow rhetoric and platitudes of the Dean crew. Don't just jump on the Dean bandwagon because it's the college trend ÷ think for yourself and support the veritable "democratic wing of the democratic party."

Jennifer Kursman is a biochemistry freshman. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Daniel Scarpinato columnist

Dean is wacko; Edwards is presidential

I suppose that if college students were all World Wrestling fans, Howard Dean would have their votes locked up after his psychotic reaction Monday night to a devastating loss in the Iowa caucus.

But Democrats need more than a madman to take out George Bush and his administration of secretive, ideological cronies. They need someone who can appear presidential on stage next to Bush.

Dean is not too far off from Bush when if comes to the president's major flaws ÷ arrogance, elitism and lack of appropriate social and communication skills. These are not the qualities that will win over the votes of young Americans. Only one candidate will motivate college students. That man is John Edwards.

Smart, humble, dignified and handsome, Edwards is the only candidate with bold ideas, captivating charm and reasonable initiatives. He is the real Washington outsider, not the preppy New Englander Howard Dean.

So he's not a seasoned statesman (he's only been in the Senate since 1998) and his populist message bleeds of liberalism, but to a generation fed up with the ineptitude of bureaucrats and shortcomings of government, Edwards can pull that message off.

Democrats, do something that will make Karl Rove shake in his boots. Give Dean a ticket back to his country club and give the son of a mill worker the chance to restore honor to the presidency, something the last two presidents have trampled on.

Daniel Scarpinato is a journalism and political science senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Sabrina Noble columnist

You can't deny Dean: the students' candidate

Without a doubt, Howard Dean is the college student's candidate. Filled with charisma and a self-assured charm sometimes bordering on arrogance, this former governor now wants to give the presidency a go. While moderate Democrats might be hesitant about fully committing themselves to his ideals, they have to love his passion for undoing Bush's anti-environmental policies, for rousing the public's interest and for declaring his candidacy long before anyone else.

His demeanor reminds one of John McCain at times, and it's good to see a candidate who may dare to put himself on the line, honestly calling it as he sees it regardless of personal risk. If there's anything a reckless and sometimes childish that America needs in these days of foreign turmoil, it's a leader who won't be swept along by the momentum of rash decisions and foolish causes that marks a certain current president (who will remain nameless). Oh yeah, and he can list almost all the U.S. states, with only minimal repeats and the tiniest hint of inebriation.

Without a doubt, Dean is fit for our serious consideration. So maybe he came in third in Iowa. So what? And so what if he's a little crazy? Leave Iowa to watch after its cornfields and keep an eye on this guy. If he's wise, he'll know he's not even close to out of the game.

Sabrina Noble is a creative writing senior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Jason Poreda columnist

Edwards is the only way to go

As all eyes turn to New Hampshire, now that Iowa is behind us, who is the best choice for Democrats? There is a wide variety of opinions on this particular question; some feel Dean has good ideas, others like Kerry's experience. I could go on and on about who likes what about whom, but for us college students there is only one candidate who stands out as the best choice for president: John Edwards.

No, it's not because he is the youngest candidate in the bunch ÷ he's still old enough to be our father ÷ or the fact that he is having a Hootie and the Blowfish concert a few days before the North Carolina primary. The fact that he has only been in politics for about five years is what makes him the best choice. He has a fresh perspective on the everyday issues that college students flock to. His platform reflects this, as he offers "common-sense solutions" that us young people prefer.

He's not the hardened politician who has been campaigning his entire life; this national campaign is just his second.

As of today, there are seven candidates still on the Democratic ballot; of those seven, Edwards is the best choice for the young college voter.

Jason Poreda is a political science and communication senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Tim Belshe columnist

It doesn't matter ÷ college students don't vote

Which candidate should appeal to college students? Who cares? No matter how much you beg and plead with him or her, the average college student won't vote anyway. Besides, come November, this race will be little more than an exercise in presidential rhetoric.

Let's face it: Much to the dismay of the liberal majority of academics, President Bush is in pretty good shape. The floundering economy that Billy Jeff left for George II is coming back to life, we finally caught Satan's butch lover literally hiding in a hole, and as much as you may want to whine about the rising deficit, you have to appreciate the tax cuts.

Unless there's a major event in the next 10 months, Bush will have a rather strong position from which to kick the Democratic nominee's ass. It all makes the Democratic primaries pretty uninteresting. To be perfectly honest, I'm more interested in watching the Mythbusters figure out if pissing on the third rail of a train track will kill you.

If I had to pick someone, I would most like to see Al Sharpton get the nomination. Out of all the candidates, including Bush, he's the most entertaining to listen to. And aside from supporting slavery reparations, he actually has quite a bit of common sense.

Anyway, did you really expect the token Republican to have an opinion on this?

Tim Belshe is a systems engineering junior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Susan Bonicillo columnist

Someday, Mr. Sharpton, your time will come

We as college students are in the unique position of preparing to enter the real world, but not yet being active participants. One day, we will succeed as the decision makers. Meanwhile, we are subject to the policies of the present. Our current leaders are the ones responsible for laying down the foundations for the America that we will take over. However this begs the question: What kind of America will we inherit one day?

Under the Bush administration, we have seen the robust economy of the '90s disintegrate into a mess of corporate scandal and a widening gap between the rich and poor. We have engaged in a war that had the lowest approval rating on both the domestic and international front. By doing so, the United States has both damaged its diplomatic ties to other countries and the legitimacy of the United Nations.

Committing to another term of this kind of behavior would be ridiculous. In response, America needs a complete turnaround from the policies enacted by Bush and company.

Armed with the right to vote, we need to find a candidate who would leave us an America free of the misguided policies of the current administration. Edwards is the best candidate for such a task.

Edwards' congressional voting record shows that he has consistently opposed Bush's policies. Moreover, his proposed plans for education and the economy show that he aims to give the most help to the working class.

With Edwards as president, he would work toward an America that would correct the misdeeds of the previous administration.

Susan Bonicillo is a journalism sophomore. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.