Minorities lead the
Democratic Party as Mock Con kickoff approaches
By
JESSICA SIMMONS
Photo by AP
The Bush administration is coming to an end and the race for the White House is beginning. Although the ballots won't be counted for over a year, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's strong launch into campaigning are placing this coming election year in history.
Their candidacy is highlighting the reality that the U.S. could be looking at the possibility of a woman or an African American in the Oval Office for the first time. Washington and Lee University students have already started to think about these implications.
"I sort of hope that won't taint too many people's decisions when it comes to voting because while I think it's great that there's more diversity, I don't think that anyone should be elected solely because they are a woman or an African American," says W&L senior, Laura Hornbuckle.
Students here at W&L don't necessarily have to be politically-minded individuals to get interested in the primaries of the Democratic Party. In fact, every four years the students get a chance to be a part of one of the most nationally-renowned Mock Conventions, simply known by the community as 'Mock Con.'
Hillary Clinton
John Edwards
Barack
Obama
WATCH: Clips from the 1996 Mock Convention
For more information:
Mock Convention 2008
Mock Convention Blog
Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama
John Edwards
The
Democratic Party
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd