Nominees meet for final faceoff in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- As the two main presidential contenders fought for the respect of 280 million potential voters, each knew that every vote counts if they want to ascend to the Oval Office.\nTexas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore squared off in Washington University's newly transformed "town hall" for what amounted to be a debate that was more exciting and original in style than substance.\nAny lack of excitement within the debate didn't diminish the aura of excitement and curiosity surrounding the event itself.\nPreparation at Washington for the debate began months ago, and students were only too willing to help with the campus' transformation. More than 600 students volunteered for 150 available debate-related positions. Some of the selected students helped construct the town hall in the fieldhouse; others designed graphics for use on everything from press materials to chair covers. Still others directed campus members of the Democratic and Republican National Committees.\nWashington junior and Bush voter Andrew Hockman said that after unsuccessfully applying for one of those positions, he went knocking on television news trucks' doors Monday night asking if there was anything he could do. \nTuesday afternoon Hockman stood from his second story apartment porch and watched the motorcades drive past on Millbrook Road.\n"For better or worse, it's like watching the whole thing roll on by," he said. \nAlthough disappointed he couldn't take a more active role in the debate, Hockman said he's thrilled to welcome the candidates to campus.\nJunior Meredith Anderson's face had a look of amazement on it as she walked up the drive from her apartment toward a stream of police cars patrolling the already blocked-off roads. Anderson, a Gore supporter, said she has only "somewhat" followed the debates but is glad as a student at Washington she has some small part in the election process. \n"I feel honored as a student to go here and to be here as the debate comes to campus," Anderson said.\nWhile some in the community went about their day as if two presidential candidates and more than 1,000 members of the media weren't around, others took the opportunity to angle for exposure for their various organizations and causes. Flying multi-colored flags of protest they descended upon the castle campus.\nSupporters of Ralph Nader and the Green Party planned marches and protests to allow Nader to participate in the debate. Anti-homosexuality groups held up signs with images such as a picture of President Bill Clinton with the words "Baptist Fag" around it. A white woman marched through the officially designated protest area with a "Stop Black Genocide" sign.\nJohn Kindschuch, a 2000 Washington graduate and intern at the Catholic Student Center, chose to do his promotion work by simply walking around the fieldhouse and media area observing everything taking place.\n"I want to be very visible (as a member of the Catholic Student Center)," he said. \nKindschuch said he wants to inform himself of all that goes on in a political forum such as the debate "so I can better serve students who come into the CSC." \nHe said that from his experience talking with people at the center and on campus in general, Washington University's vote is evenly divided. That makes the debate on campus even more intriguing, he said.\n"Not many people are staunch one way or the other... there are only a few people (here) voting strictly on party lines."\nWhatever their party affiliation -- or lack thereof -- the eyes of the world were on the presidential candidates Tuesday night. In three weeks the situation will reverse itself, as Bush and Gore cautiously eye all those who watched, all those who protested, and all who somehow huddled together in St. Louis.