USA: Stage set at Lynn University for candidates to face off in final presidential debate

Record ID: 572349

  • Title: USA: Stage set at Lynn University for candidates to face off in final presidential debate
  • Date: 22nd October 2012
  • Summary: XBOCA RATON, FLORIDA (OCTOBER 22, 2012) (REUTERS) VIEW OF LYNN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS VARIOUS OF FLAGS AT UNIVERSITY MAIN ENTRANCE DEBATE BANNER JAPANESE FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) TAMMY REYES, NICARAGUAN GRADUATE STUDENT AT LYNN UNIVERSITY, SAYING: "The issues that they're going to be speaking about are foreign policy issues. So definitely all the issues that they're going to be talking about indirectly or directly affect me and my family and my country so I want to hear what they have to say to make my decision based on that." EXTERIOR OF DEBATE HALL WIDE OF STUDENTS HOLDING SIGNS SUPPORTING PRESIDENT OBAMA POSTER READING "STUDENTS FOR OBAMA" VARIOUS OF STUDENTS HELPING IN FINAL PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF THE DEBATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) VICTOR LAZNIK, JUNIOR STUDENT AT LYNN UNIVERSITY STUDENT, SAYING: "After the Iraq war it never really hit me until 2011 when Barrack Obama finally came out and said they got Osama bin Laden and I was really excited for that because it was kind of like the closure we all needed." LARGE SCREENS SET UP IN A SOCCER FIELD WHERE STUDENTS WILL WATCH THE DEBATE MAN SETTING UP TENT VIEW OF TENT SEATING AREA LARRY UNIVERSITY DEBATE BANNER (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHANDRA LUGL, FRESHMAN STUDENT, SAYING: "We are seen as a liberal country, we are seen as such a free country, as a super power country, but in reality the way times are right now, we cannot just depend on ourselves and I feel you need those international ties because without the international people we have ties with we would be nothing. First being a leader you have to admit that there are people you need and it takes a strong man to do that and I feel Obama does that every time." DEBATE BANNER MORE OF STUDENT VOLUNTEERS SETTING UP TABLES DEBATE VIEWING AREA
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4MG1T23IQII1JMZVH4RJQT3HP
  • Story Text: As the presidential debate spotlight turns to a small university in Boca Raton, Florida students said they are overwhelmed about hosting the final presidential showdown between President Barrack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney on Monday (October 22).
    The third and last debate at Lynn University will focus on foreign policy and national security and many students said they have been tuning in for months to make sure they choose the right candidate for the United States presidency.
    Tammy Reyes, a Nicaraguan graduate student at Lynn University, said foreign policy is important to her because it could determine whether she stays in the United States or goes back to her native Nicaragua.

    "The issues that they're going to be speaking about are foreign policy issues. So definitely all the issues that they're going to be talking about indirectly or directly affect me and my family and my country so I want to hear what they have to say to make my decision based on that," said Tammy Reyes, who added that she has made her choice of candidate on most issues, but is still waiting for the final foreign policy topic to complete her decision.
    One student credits Obama with the capture of Osama bin Laden adding that the president brought some justice to the September 11 attacks that killed two of his friends and thousands of other victims.

    "After the Iraq war it never really hit me until 2011 when Barack Obama finally came out and said they got Osama bin Laden and I was really excited for that because it was kind of like the closure we all needed," said Victor Laznik, a Junior at Lynn University.
    Media outlets from around the world have descended on the Lynn University campus to cover the debate.
    Debate organizers have said that at least 3,000 press passes have been issued, more than both previous debates.
    Most polls are showing Obama and Romney tied in a dead heat increasing the stakes for their third and final debate.
    With millions of people in the U.S. and around the world watching, both candidates will look to break the tie and attract undecided voters.
    For Chandra Lugl, a freshman student, what is most important is that the American people elect a leader who will bring the U.S. back to an international stage of diplomatic leadership.

    "We are seen as a liberal country, we are seen as such a free country, as a superpower country, but in reality the way times are right now, we cannot just depend on ourselves and I feel you need those international ties because without the international people we have ties with we would be nothing. First being a leader you have to admit that there are people you need and it takes a strong man to do that and I feel Obama does that every time," said Lugl.
    Lynn University has 2,100 students. A select group of them entered a lottery for a chance to win a ticket to witness the debate in person. Many other students who were not so lucky plan to watch the debate on large screens set up at a soccer field on campus.
    A Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll released on Monday (October 22), put the two candidates tied. The online survey of likely voters found Obama and Romney were each supported by 46 percent of the electorate as they prepare for their final televised debate on Monday night.
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