Those who thought the election could not be as close as Bush vs. Gore in 2000 have been proved wrong. Everything from debates to opinion polls have declared this year's race a near tie. Even students and faculty members were divided on their choice of a candidate.

The Visor conducted a mock presidential election among students on Oct. 21 and among faculty and staff on Oct. 22. Out of 388 students participating, 201 preferred President George W. Bush, 158 preferred Sen. John F. Kerry and 29 expressed no preference. The next day, 34 faculty and staff members participated in the mock election and 14 preferred Bush while 20 preferred Kerry. In addition to candidate preference, people were polled on which candidate better represented their views on various issues. The results are summarized in the tables below.

To better clear up differences between the two major candidates, facts and student opinion will be presented, focusing on education, foreign policy, social issues and the economy.

President George W. Bush

In the 2000 presidential election, George W. Bush stood on a platform of school vouchers, finding more sources for oil and not imposing harsher gun control on average citizens. In the present election, Bush's focus lies in America's main concern since Sept. 11, 2001: defending the country against terrorism. Though some may criticize Bush for sending troops to Iraq, he promises to continue fighting abroad to avoid facing consequences at home. According to www.georgewbush.com, the main goals of the Bush administration in the war against terror are to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to build on the USA Patriot Act to strengthen communication, cooperation and coordination on all levels of intelligence and law enforcement, to continue to strengthen security in areas of vulnerability and not to wait for new threats to fester. Another point from the Bush campaign is improved intelligence, which Bush plans to accomplish by creating a national intelligence director, establish a national counterterrorism center, reform congressional oversight and improve and coordinate intelligence resources.

Though some do not approve of the war in Iraq, freshman Becky Miesle thinks removing Bush from office would only make the situation worse.

"Neither of the candidates could get out of there in six months, so Bush needs to stay in office to help move things along," she said.

Freshman Josh Bray thinks people need to remember past events and how the president handled them.

"Most people forget to mention the fact that since Sept. 11, Bush has handled things well," he said. "We haven't been attacked, and the economy is great."

History teacher Jason Anderson also thinks the terrorist attack was handled well.

"After Sept. 11, the president did a good job of responding to the threat," he said. "There are things that he knows that I will never know and Americans do not need to know."

In the last election race, Bush promoted his "Reading First" programs and vouchers for quality education. This time around, the Bush Web site says he will continue his past programs along with promoting new goals and plans. The most well known of these is the No Child Left Behind Act. This program demands accountability for the record levels of federal spending now going to K-12 education. If elected to a second term, Bush promises to provide $250 million annually to extend state assessment of high school reading and math skills. Other points of his education plan are to promote literacy, fund research and development of curricula to teach children and families, engage faith- and community-based organizations and increase the education outreach to minorities. The Healthy Start and Grow Smart programs are also part of Bush's education plan. These programs will focus more clearly on school readiness.

As a teacher, Anderson thinks Bush's education programs will improve the quality of teaching rather than change the students.

"I think the education system has a big hill to climb to get it reformed, and this may be the first step," he said. "This program makes teachers accountable and puts them to the test."

English teacher Casey Yandek thinks the education programs could be beneficial if carried out effectively.

"The programs have been undertaken with the best of intentions," he said. "I hope Bush keeps sight of those intentions and that he is rededicating himself to his education policies, because it could be very good if implemented properly."

Another heated issue in this election is that of jobs and the economy. Bush says he plans to help people obtain jobs and improve the economy by building a skilled and effective work force through reformed education. In addition, Bush plans to allow small businesses to band together to provide more affordable health care, allow employees to choose either paid time off or overtime pay and provide $500 million to educate and train high-skilled workers in school and community colleges. Additionally, Bush's plan includes making tax codes simpler, encouraging saving and investment, and improving the economy's ability to create jobs and raise wages.

Senior David Wartko thinks the Republican economic system that Bush follows is a safe choice.

"I support Republican economic policy because the Democrats seem to favor an economic policy that too closely resembles socialism," he said. "That is dangerous in an economy based on capitalist principles."

Most of Bush's positions on social issues are in compliance with the Catholic Church. He is antiabortion and against gay marriage. However, he is for the death penalty and Pope John Paul II opposed the war in Iraq.

Bush's antiabortion stance has gained the favor of many citizens, such as senior Amy Franks.

"In choosing a candidate, I go by their morals," Franks said. "Bush is against abortion and gay marriage, like it says in the Bible."

Anderson also supports Bush's social platform.

"I am strongly behind the president's social issues," Anderson said. "He takes a very Catholic stand on the issue of life. Listening to Kerry's opinions on abortion in the third debate shocked me, coming from a Catholic."

Bush summarizes his policies and platforms in his campaign ads with "Building a safer world and a more hopeful America."

Sen. John F. Kerry

Challenging Bush in the presidential election is Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Kerry has big plans on how to make America better.

Kerry promises to strengthen the middle class. He would work to ensure more jobs for these people through a strategic plan. Three million jobs have been lost during the past four years. Kerry has promised to create jobs through manufacturing job credits, stopping layoffs in education, restoring technology and investing money in industries.

Kerry attacks many of the core issues during this year's campaign. One that Kerry is putting great emphasis on is foreign policy. The terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have overshadowed the other issues.

Kerry's views about the United States involvement in Iraq differ with those of Bush. Whether some think Bush is right or wrong, many lives are at stake.

Junior Roland Battle is against the war in Iraq, stating that America has needs that should be met also.

"We shouldn't be in the business of other countries. Our soldiers need to come home," he said. "We have problems here in our own country, and we are over in Iraq trying to make theirs a more comfortable place. We need to concentrate on America's needs."

According to www.johnkerry.com, Kerry intends to internationalize the war in Iraq, because others must share the burden. He plans to train Iraqis to be responsible for their own security, to move ahead with reconstruction to stop the spread of terror and to help Iraqis achieve a viable government so they can run their own country.

Some students may have a different approach on the war. Soldiers being sent off and families being left behind have posed quite a quandary in American households.

Although junior Kelsey Stoneman supports her relatives in the war, she does not support the war itself.

"I am against the war because I think it was a bad idea to go into Iraq," Stoneman said. "I have cousins overseas, and I have not been able to see them in two years. I wouldn't say President Bush is breaking up the families, but the war is placing a strain on them emotionally."

Education is a major issue of great interest to students in this year's election. Many seniors will be attending college next year and have the right to vote for the first time. Kerry's education policy will ensure the achievement gap is closed between students. This means students with different social backgrounds will be tested at a rigorous level. Also, each student will be required to perform at a top-level performance.

Kerry's education plan includes establishing a National Education Trust Fund to ensure that schools always get the funding they need. His campaign promises to continue reform and to put a great teacher in every classroom. Kerry is a strong supporter of after-school programs and promises to offer such opportunities to 3.5 million children to provide extra help for working parents and to keep kids out of trouble. As president, Kerry would provide a fully refundable College Opportunity Tax credit on up to $4,000 of tuition for every year of college. He promises to offer aid to states that keep tuitions down.

Stoneman feels secure under Bush's No Child Left Behind policy. Nevertheless, she thinks changes could be made.

"I don't think I am personally being left behind, but I know other children are," she said. "Sen. John Kerry can broaden the education for students, pertaining to the standardized testing."

Junior Karmaya Kelly feels strongly that the minority population is being left behind under Bush's policies.

"Right now, many young students are dropping out of school because of the lack of money and support," she said. "We as Hoban students have a better advantage. But most minorities do not have the financial means to attend private schools. So yes, I believe children are still being left behind. I have faith that Kerry can help this class of people and lead us into a brighter future. That is, if his word is his bond."

As for the economy and jobs, Kerry has plans to strengthen the middle class by creating good-paying jobs, cutting middle-class taxes to raise incomes, forcing the federal government to live within a budget and investing in high-tech jobs.

Senior Megan McCormick is active in the Kerry campaign and thinks his economic policies will be beneficial.

"John Kerry is good for American jobs and the American economy because he wants to bring new jobs to America and to Ohio by closing the overseas tax loopholes," she said. "He also wants to raise the minimum wage, which would be good for struggling families."

The theme of Kerry's campaign is to make America "Stronger at home, respected in the world." His Web site details how he intends to do this.