Super Tuesday suggests 2-way race for both parties

With the Republican and Democratic fields whittled down to a pair of candidates each, Super Tuesday’s 22 elections are starting to look more like Super Twos-day.

Many members of the MSU community said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are the main Republican candidates, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., are the Democratic front-runners.

The rest, students said, are virtually irrelevant.

A Gallup poll released Monday showed Clinton with 47 percent of the Democratic vote and Obama with 43 percent. For the Republicans, McCain collected 45 percent, while Romney had 25 percent.

The Democratic race became even tighter when former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who had been the third highest vote-getter, dropped out of the race last week. He has not endorsed Obama or Clinton, and his impact is unknown.

Although Edwards withdrew last week, political science and psychology junior Nick Horvath said it was overdue.

“I think it’s been a two-person race for a while,” he said. “And I think that if you were going to say anything about him dropping out, you would probably say it was too late.”

Benjamin Kleinerman, an assistant professor in James Madison College, said he thinks Edwards could positively affect Obama’s chances.

“My sense of things is that Obama would benefit because if they chose Edwards when Hillary was considered the front-runner throughout, then they may be looking for an alternative to Hillary,” he said.

Emily Castle, chairwoman of MSU’s Students for Hillary Clinton, said Clinton and Edwards’ similar demographic appeal will aid Clinton.

“Edwards has a lot of support from unions, and Hillary does, too,” she said.

Kleinerman said Super Tuesday won’t decide the Democratic picture, unlike the Republican race.

After Romney won the Michigan primary, many election analysts said the party lacked a clear front-runner. In the three weeks since, Romney and McCain remain as the party’s two main candidates.

Despite Romney’s presence, Kleinerman said the former Massachusetts governor’s efforts to win the nomination will be in vain.

“If McCain is going to win as many as he looks like he’s going to, the race is essentially over on the Republican side,” he said.

Leo Madarang, chairman of MSU’s Students for Mitt Romney, said McCain doesn’t represent the Republican Party’s values and should be considered behind Romney.

“If you are a conservative with conservative values, you vote for Romney,” Madarang said.

Carrie White, chairwoman of MSU’s Students for John McCain, said McCain’s endorsements from Republican senators speakto his party appeal.

“He’s definitely someone Republicans want,” she said.

“Senators are coming out and endorsing him.”