Obama swamps McCain in ISU mock presidential election

Although national polls have the race between Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican nominee John McCain as drawing closer, freshmen at Iowa State University overwhelming support Sen. Obama.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) sponsored a Presidential Mock Election for the 2008 race onThursday, Aug. 21, during Destination Iowa State. Destination Iowa State is a program designed to ease the transition to college for new Iowa State students.

Almost 400 students participated in the LAS mock election with Obama sweeping to victory with 60% of the vote. Sen. McCain receiving 35% with Ralph Nader coming in a distant third with 3%.

A variety of minor candidates received just a hand full of votes in the mock election.

This is the third victory for Obama in LAS mock elections held within the last year. Last summer, the Illinois senator received 65% of the vote in a Democratic preference poll at Destination Iowa State.

Then last spring, during Iowa State's VEISHEA celebration, Obama scored an even larger victory over McCain by a 68% to 32% margin.