With just one more day to decide which candidates will move forward into what promises to be one of the most important presidential elections in history, we realize the task may be a little overwhelming for any voter.
Judging candidates beyond their commercials or sound bytes requires careful consideration of the issues - not something every college student has a lot of time for.
But, the importance of selecting the most qualified candidate for your party in Tuesday's primary should not be shoved to the bottom of your to-do list.
The unique economic and ethnic character of the state of Florida offers presidential hopefuls one last chance to capture the attention of the electorate before Feb. 5, also known as Super Tuesday, when the people of 22 states make their primary picks.
The countless debates and contentious headlines have made the horse-race coverage of this campaign a gold mine for late- night comedians but have not necessarily provided a wealth of information on the issues. At times, and particularly in South Carolina, the campaigns have taken a negative turn as the stakes have climbed higher.
Our endorsements for the presidential primaries come after researching the issues that affect young voters and the direction our country is headed.
After some deliberation, we back the following candidates:
Republican Party: Oddly enough, we're with Bernie on this one. Our pick for the Republican ticket is John McCain. The senior senator from Arizona not only offers national leadership experience, but his record for standing up to powerful political forces even within his own party demonstrates his commitment to honorable service. McCain's contributions to campaign finance reform and national security are admirable.
We're also impressed with his condemnation of controversial interrogation techniques, and the fact that he publicly declared waterboarding as a form of torture that he does not support.
McCain's proposal to reform health care so that corporations receive incentives for providing insurance to their employees is also a step in the right direction. Mitt Romney's stance on major issues seems to change on a day-to-day basis, while Mike Huckabee's extreme positions are nothing short of frightening. We choose the candidate with demonstrated leadership and strong military service.
Democratic Party: For a real change in Washington, we endorse Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination, and we have several reasons based on his policy platform behind our decision.
The young, dynamic candidate represents progress with his plans to begin a phased redeployment of American troops out of Iraq.
His proposed American Opportunity Tax Credit will make community college tuition completely free for most students and will cover two-thirds of the cost of tuition at the average public university.
Obama has also demonstrated the urgent need to do away with the United States' dependence on oil. He has pledged to double spending on research in clean energy.
While Hillary Clinton and Obama differ on issues, there are no significant divisions. Clinton may have gained more experience in the national spotlight by spending eight years in the White House as first lady, but judging strictly on policy, it was a toss-up for us. We feel Obama's message in the Oval Office will inspire young people and resonate with all Americans.
Much like we believe John F. Kennedy did just a few generations ago, Obama represents positive change for the country - both socially and politically. And we welcome those changes with open arms.
It's been far too long.
