Mock Debate & Straw Poll

by Ginny Moore

On November 2, boys from the grades VIII and IX staged a mock presidential debate and conducted a straw poll.

The debate occurred on stage at the morning assembly, and four boys played the roles of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Governor Mitt Romney, and Congressman Paul Ryan.  To make the focus more about the issues rather than the personas, the debaters took the alias names Mr. Goose, with running mate Mr. Gosling, and Mr. Duck, with running mate Mr. Duckling.

Before the debate kicked-off, we were educated on how Americans vote and American voting history, bringing greater significance to the mock vote that we all would later cast.

On stage, Mr. Goose, Mr. Gosling, Mr. Duck, and Mr. Duckling took turns answering the moderator’s questions that class homerooms had submitted.  Also on stage were teams of researchers who acted as campaign workers and helped to provide accurate answers that supported their specific candidate’s position.  We listened intently as the debaters covered topics on education, health care, national debt, gun laws, foreign policy, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Iran.

Before returning to our desks to cast our votes, the audience was given lighthearted and humorous election forecasts based on results from miscellaneous indicators in years past.  Apparently sales in Halloween masks of the politicians have indicated popularity, as well have votes in the first lady cookie bake off coordinated by Family Circle magazine.  In addition, the winner of the last Washington Redskins’ home game prior to the election has foreshadowed whether the incumbent will win, and in 2008 a squirrel named Gnocchi ate nuts from a bowl labeled Obama rather than the bowl labeled McCain.

If St. Bernard’s straw poll indicates anything for Election Day, it is that it will be a close race.  Mr. Goose won, with 200 votes to Mr. Duck’s 184.