With Super Tuesday - Feb. 5 - fast approaching, NIU College Democrats are divided on their choice for presidential nominee between Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, with former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards lagging.

Tuesday evening, representatives of the NIU College Democrats met in the Stevenson Hall lobby, recruiting students and handing out flyers. Members of the organization were vocal in support of their candidates, but no opinions were voiced.

“I’m not in the particular position to state which candidate I’m supporting,” said Kevin Chambliss, president of the NIU College Democrats.

Chambliss said that, as head of the organization, he did not want to make a public statement that could influence the group. Other members of the group did share their views.

“[Hillary Clinton] will be the best at dealing with Bush’s mess,” said Eric Schmack, junior undecided major. “Hillary is more accustomed to taking shots from the ‘noise machine’ than Obama is.”

Avery Wehner, a junior physics major, and Ryan Beebe, a junior history major, said they support Barack Obama in the primaries.

“Obama is good, honest and more willing to make change,” Beebe said. “I like his views on civil rights.”

Beebe also said he hoped that if Hillary gets the nomination, Obama runs as her vice-president or as a member of her cabinet.

“[Obama] brings in new ideas; he doesn’t have the baggage that Hillary has,” Wehner said.
Wehner also said that, like her, fellow Obama supporters are not “hardcore” Democrats.

None of the College Democrats in attendance Tuesday night supported John Edwards. Chambliss said it was hard for some Democrats to believe his stances.

“He’s saying things that are very radical for a presidential candidate to say,” Chambliss said. “He’s a great ambassador for his initiatives, but I think he’s only making his promises because he doesn’t have a chance of winning.”

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