Campus reflects on presidential race

As the political race drags on, students and professors at Cal State Long Beach hold true to their thoughts about the presidential election and whether they think it is time for Vice President Al Gore to give up the race or not.

"Nobody respects a quitter," said Dr. Larry Martinez, a political science professor at CSULB.

Martinez uses the last play of a football game to illustrate the election race.

"The game clock has ended, the player is going forward and makes a touchdown," she said.  "The whistle was blown.  Did the player score?  The announcers are arguing and they will make the final decision, but the crowd is going to be pissed off no matter what."

The Supreme Court declared, Monday, Gov. George W. Bush victorious and a week remains, according to federal statutes, for Gore's lawyers to try and persuade more recounts in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties until Florida's electors must be chosen.

"I think Gore should keep going," Martinez added.  "You never know what the outcome will be."

Jerome Jackson, a senior political science major who voted for Gore, thinks the vice president should give up.

"It will make Gore look a lot better if he stops," Jackson said.  "It's been dragging on for too long and he can always come up for re-election in four years."

Senior political science major Michelle Quijano declares herself "anti-Bush" and holds a different opinion.

"Our laws give us the chance to seek out that chance to win," Quijano said.  "I think Gore should continue."

According to Jackson, this election race is making the country look bad.

"This is a slap in the face for the U.S. to other countries, because we messed up democracy," Jackson said.

"It was really close, but I predicted Florida would vote Bush anyway," Jackson added.  "Bush didn't show he was a competent leader because of his hands off approach to the foreign policy and republicans just voted for him because he was republican.  They are going to bite their tongues."

Political science professor Dr. Mary Caputi is not in a hurry to hear the results of the election.

"I fully understand what Gore is doing and I'm not in a hurry to see who wins," Caputi said.  "I'd like to see every stone uncovered."

"He (Gore) has serious questions about the legitimacy of the election," Caputi added.

Dr. Garcia-Bedolla, also a political science professor, agrees with Gore's persistence.

"Conflict is not always bad," she said.  "It's allowed it's his right and the law gives him the right. It's protecting the rights of the people."