Spring Break
DeWine discusses primary elections
Jonathan Gair
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Campus
Speaking in front of a mixed group of political science faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students Wednesday, former United States Senator Mike DeWine spoke out for the first time at Miami University about his thoughts and predictions for the presidential primaries.
DeWine, who heads up Senator John McCain's (R-Ariz.) Ohio campaign, spoke on a wide variety of topics, including the importance of Ohio in the presidential race, Democratic and Republic election strategy and other insights surrounding the most back-and-forth primary season in recent memory.
Adeed Dawisha, professor of political science, organized the event and described it as this year's first faculty research seminar.
Dawisha said that in years past students have typically not been invited to these seminars.
"(They are) usually restricted to faculty members who can present their research and opinion if there's a world problem or event," Dawisha said.
However, despite this restriction, Dawisha said he felt that the unique Congressional history of DeWine meant that opening a small discussion up to a wider audience was important.
"You won't get this type of perspective from a professor. He knows these (candidates) intimately," Dawisha said.
DeWine, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1982 until 1992 and in the Senate from 1994 until 2006, immediately spoke of McCain-describing the Republican contender's Tuesday night victory in the Florida primary as "a must win." DeWine characterized the Republican primary race as an issue of money versus momentum, with opposing Republican candidate Mitt Romney providing a serious threat because of his financing.
DeWine said he was concerned with the amount of funds left in McCain's campaign, especially as the primary race continues into Super Tuesday. He said that the results of the 22-state vote Feb. 4 will be influenced by an unprecedented national swing campaign of airport-to-airport rallies.
DeWine, who heads up Senator John McCain's (R-Ariz.) Ohio campaign, spoke on a wide variety of topics, including the importance of Ohio in the presidential race, Democratic and Republic election strategy and other insights surrounding the most back-and-forth primary season in recent memory.
Adeed Dawisha, professor of political science, organized the event and described it as this year's first faculty research seminar.
Dawisha said that in years past students have typically not been invited to these seminars.
"(They are) usually restricted to faculty members who can present their research and opinion if there's a world problem or event," Dawisha said.
However, despite this restriction, Dawisha said he felt that the unique Congressional history of DeWine meant that opening a small discussion up to a wider audience was important.
"You won't get this type of perspective from a professor. He knows these (candidates) intimately," Dawisha said.
DeWine, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1982 until 1992 and in the Senate from 1994 until 2006, immediately spoke of McCain-describing the Republican contender's Tuesday night victory in the Florida primary as "a must win." DeWine characterized the Republican primary race as an issue of money versus momentum, with opposing Republican candidate Mitt Romney providing a serious threat because of his financing.
DeWine said he was concerned with the amount of funds left in McCain's campaign, especially as the primary race continues into Super Tuesday. He said that the results of the 22-state vote Feb. 4 will be influenced by an unprecedented national swing campaign of airport-to-airport rallies.
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