Obama and McCain silent on same-sex marriage issue

Amendments to ban same-sex marriages is on the ballot in California, Florida and Arizona this fall. However, McCain and Obama have let this issue slip from the main topics of their campaigns.

Arizona collectively voted against this ban in 2006. The California Supreme Court struck down the ban in May this year, legalizing gay marriage across the state. The debate has officially entered Florida for the first time. All states have the ban on the November ballot, along with the presidential candidates.


Obama opposes same-sex marriage but also opposes a constitutional ban on these unions, while supporting civil-unions. McCain and his party platform stand firm in supporting marriages between only a man and a woman. He voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, but against a constitutional amendment - stating that states have the right to choose appropriate action on this issue. (Source: CNN)

With such a devisive issue on the ballot of three important states for each candidate, it is no wonder they are steering clear of an issue that could damage their campaigns.
In California, voting for Obama could lead voters to also vote for the ban in one swoop at the voting booths.

McCain keeps quiet in Arizona

McCain has been relatively quiet with the media in Arizona, his home state. Press have found it nearly impossible to get interviews with one of their long-standing politicians, Cindy McCain or Sarah Palin.
This relationship, or lack thereof, could be for several reasons: Arizona is his home state and an assumed red state and the campaign is focusing on the swing states, it could be a part of the campaign's national trend to deny access to national media outlets, it could be just part of the campaign's grudge against "liberal" media or it could stem from McCain's tense history with the press in his home state.
All are equally plausible, but it has left readers in Arizona and across the country wanting more from the state's press.

Students GOTV

The Associated Students at the University of Arizona (ASUA) are challenging the conception that students do not vote. Elected officials often ignore targeting the youth specifically, claiming that they have other groups more likely to vote. This negative conception of students has some truth, being a student myself, I witness the apathy daily. However, the older generations simultaneously ignoring and admonishing us only perpetuates the truth in this stereotype.

Students in Arizona are taking a proactive approach with the UAVOTES08 campaign among their peers to close the voting gap, to encourage youth to participate in such a pivotal election.

These students are tapping into the long-standing online community, Myspace, and they are calling it the "Ultimate College Bowl," in hopes of spreading the campaign to campuses across the country.

This year, ASUA has a statewide goal of registering more than 13,000 students and getting 20,000 people to pledge to vote during the general election.

"We want more people involved. We want them to know the issues and we want our students to be engaged in the election process," Tommy Bruce said, president of the ASUA. "It's very feasible that students in Arizona will decide the state's presidential candidate."

Not only is the campaing encouraging voter registration and voting on the general election day, they also provide non-partisan information, will host presidential debate watching parties, and on October 8 the University of Arizona will serve as a polling site for the general election.

50 Days to General Election

Sunday marked the last 50 days until the general election on November 2. Here is an update on Arizona's past and current political status.

Let's start with Arizona's presidential voting history, pulled from Arizona's Secretary of Sate.

1992 General Election Results:

Bush/Quayle (R) with 572,086 votes. *State winner

Clinton/Gore (D) with 543,050 votes. *National winner

1996 General Election Results:

Dole/Kemp (R) with 622,073 votes.

Clinton/Gore (D) with 653,288 votes. *State and national winner

2000 General Election Results:

Bush/Cheney (R) with 781,652 votes. *State and national winner

Gore/Lieberman (D) with 685,341 votes.

2004 General Election Results:

Bush/Cheney (R) with 1,104, 294 votes. *State and national winner

Kerry/Edwards (D) with 893,524 votes.

Arizona has a mix of Democrats and Republicans holding national and state offices. Democratic governor, Napolitano, was first elected Attorny General in 1998 and won in a landslide for governor in 2000 with 63% of the vote. Napolitano will be up for re-election in 2011.

John McCain, current senator and Republican nominee for president, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and was elected U.S. Senator in 1986. He won his first election with a wide margin, 60-40% and in 1992, after the potentially damaging Keating Five investigation he was re-elected with a 56%-32% split.McCain's fourth full term in the Senate will be up in 2010. McCain has proven to be a solid favorite among Arizona citizens, at least as a senator. An important factor in McCain's potential win in Arizona is his race for president in 2000. McCain swept away the Arizona primary in February that year with 60% of the vote, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Republican John Kyl has held the other senate seat since 1994. In congress he was been a silent but strong force for defense policy. His third full term will be up in 2012.

With no other key national races coming up this November, Kyl has kept his usual quiet demeaner on the national stage while Napolitano has recently started campaigning for Obama. Check out her co-stumping here:

In polls, Arizona is leaning toward McCain. According to a collection of polls on pollster.com, the two candidates are sliding closer: Obama with 40.4% and McCain with 45.8%. In an ASU/Cronkite-Eight poll taken August 16-18, McCain leads with 40%, Obama next with 30% and Undecided with 28%.

Key issues concerning Arizona citizens have historically been
This year, issues of the economy (which canvases nearly all states this cycle) and immigration catch Arizonan's attentions in the presidential debate. Arizona also has a large Hispanic population, just over 25%. Capturing the Hispanic vote was not too difficult for Hillary Clinton and Obama has been serious efforts into swaying their support.

With a history of steadfast support for McCain, a large population concerned with two issues conservatives have to their advantage, recent polls and a large population not to happy with Clinton out of the game, this blogger predicts that if the election were held today, Arizona would go to McCain.