College students filed their way into a nonpartisan debate watch party at French Auditorium on the campus of Central Michigan University, home to over 15,000 students.
“Thank you for being active and engaged citizens. Fire up the vote,” said an event organizer.
The university lies in the heart of Michigan in Isabella County, which Trump won in 2020 by 743 votes, or 2.5%. It last went blue in 2012.
Students played an online quiz game while waiting for the debate. The auditorium filled with the sound of music. WCMU spoke to Mark Kemme, who said he did pretty good at the quiz. He was leaning towards Vice President Kamala Harris, and was happy President Joe Biden stepped down.
“I was probably still going to vote for Biden, but I was very nervous and very unsure if he'll be able to beat Trump. However, I feel that him stepping down really showed a huge step of being pro America,” he said.
Meanwhile, first-time voter Eden Wilson, was also leaning Harris and said Kamala’s entrance motivated her to vote for her party.
“He is a Democrat, but that would be the only reason I would be voting for him. I was definitely trying to look into the independent third parties. I feel as though they did not discuss the important things, they discussed golf,” Wilson said.
Overall, she wanted a less unhinged debate than the first.
“Honestly, I want them to talk about things that are not stupid. I want them to make sense and I want them to just have a civil conversation. That's something that I've always just wanted to come out of politics,” she said.
Another first-time voter Kelvin Marsh was still unsure but leaning Trump. He said he wasn’t happy about Trump’s Covid policies but wasn’t sure how Democrats would lead.
“I don't know, I don't know that much about what, what the democrats' positions are and many things,” he said.
Two more first-time voters WCMU spoke with were leaning in different directions. Alex Kelly said he was leaning Republican and came from a right-leaning family, he felt the candidates were a bit too partisan.
“Kamala Harris is, I feel like a little too left and Trump's a little too right. Personally, I would have gone if RFK had stayed in the race. I was voting for RFK Jr,” Kelly said.
Zach Rowland, who was leaning Democrat agreed. “Most of the voters are in the middle, and I wish there was more in the middle than just on one side,” Rowland said.
Dominic Maccani is a first-time voter leaning Harris, he wanted to hear more about childcare. “I feel really passionately about education issues,” Maccani said. “During the last debate, when they talked about affordable childcare, both candidates started talking about their golf handicaps. So, I'm hoping that doesn't happen again.
The debate started as students sat watching a projector, occasionally reacting to certain zingers.
After the debate, WCMU caught back up with Rowland and Kelly. They said they didn’t learn much from the debate.
“They just kept going back and forth, and sometimes they focus on what they were going to do,” Kelly said. “A couple of questions were answered, but not all the questions were answered on both sides,” Rowland said.
“I really wish they focused more on the answer,” Rowland said agreeing. “What they were going to do if they got presidency. It was more just like poking at each other, and I just wish there was more talking about, hey, this is my campaign,” Kelly said.
First-time voter Harry Krafchak said he was happy with Harris’ performance, although he was left wanting more. “I thought for the most part she did a solid job. I wanted to hear more from her on the issue in Gaza, I wanted to hear more from her on the climate. So, I was disappointed on those answers,” Krafchak said.
“Just listening to Trump talk was exactly what I expected, and it was hard, and it was a little scary. So, I think, you know, I think Harris exceeded expectations and Trump met exactly where he was supposed to be,” he added.
Carter Bane felt he had heard more of the same from Trump. “Like we're asking about this and this and this. He's ‘like immigration, millions of immigrants over the border’ and like it has nothing to do with climate change,” Bane said.
Still, both students were skeptical that the debate would change the state of the race much.
“I think she came into today leading,” Krafchak said. “I think the only thing that debate performance could have done is expand the lead. If anything, it'll just stay stagnant, which is what I feel like will happen. But definitely, it’s not going to help Trump tonight.”
“I don't think he made any points that would have had any voters like, excited to meet him,” Bane said.
It’s unclear if Trump and Harris will debate again before the election. Their running mates are set to debate on October 1.
