It’s time for the United States to find out who their 44th president will be.
Will it be Hillary Clinton, looking to be the first female president, or Donald Trump, the
American businessman and former television producer?
Polls in over two dozen states opened up to the public Tuesday morning for everyone waiting
to give their last opinion on who they thought should be next president. Despite the chilly and
damp morning, Oxford Mississippi voters came out in plenty.
However, it is apparent that the opinions of the voters still differ, with the only thing they tend
to agree being that they are glad this election season is over.
Kayla McCarty is hopeful that the end of this election season will help decrease hostility
between the opposing sides.
“It has been a rocky road for me,” McCarty said. “It has been scary just seeing some of the
people fighting against each other over each candidate.”
McCarty, who was originally a supporter for Bernie Sanders, now sees Clinton as an
understandable candidate to win.
“It’s obvious Clinton would be a better choice of a candidate,” McCarty said. “Just because we
cannot let someone like Trump get into power like that.”
McCarty also admits that her resentment of Trump helped play a factor in her voting.
“I’m voting against Trump, but I also don’t think Hillary is as bad,” McCarty said. “There are
some things I agree with her and some things I don’t agree with her but she is clearly the better
choice.”
First time Mississippi voters Todd and Leslie Maine disagree however. Todd and Leslie, who
moved to Oxford Mississippi because of kids in school, see Donald Trump as the clear favorite
for presidency.
“Donald Trump shined head and shoulders above Hillary Clinton,” Todd said. “I think it’s a
crucial time in American history, so hopefully the American people do the right thing today.”
After a little trouble with trying to vote at the poll this morning, Todd was eventually able to
cast his vote for the candidate he saw more capable of leading the country.
“I’m happy with my candidate,” Todd said. “I voted for who I thought was the better
candidate, to make America great again.”
Leslie agrees with Todd while stating how happy she was this “brutal” election season is over.
She also shared her admiration for Trump, calling him the “better candidate, hands down.”
“I like his policies on immigration,” Leslie said. “That he is willing to make jobs in this
country again, and he doesn’t believe in abortion and some of those things I really stand against.”
But not everyone was impressed by either candidate.
Cristian Camp explains how he wasn’t happy with the election season because it turned into
“choosing the lesser of two evils.” Camp mentions how the candidate’s actions made it hard to
see one being more competent than the other.
“It’s more them just bashing each other,” Camp said. “And just trying to make the other one
look not as good as the other one instead of trying to show the point in the policies that they can
do to make Americas be what it used to be.”
“I feel like it’s just one trying to make the other one look worse.”
Danyele Wilson was a little more blunt with her expectations after the election.
“We’re doomed,” Wilson said. “Just hope we got the right person.”
Wilson, who admits to voting against the other candidate, is not happy with the baggage that
comes with both presidential candidates, claiming “they both have just as much dirt as the
other.”
Kesha Ware also feels like actual politics has taken a back seat during this election as both
candidates continue the mudslinging.
“I think it’s been more of smear campaign,” Ware said. “As opposed to actually focusing on
the most important things, which are the things of our country.”
While Ware has made her decision on who to vote for, she still recognizes the faults on both
sides but wishes there was an alternative.
“There are definitely qualities on both sides that can be improved,” Ware said. “And if there
was another candidate to choose from, that would probably help the situation. Since there’s not,
we have to work with what we have.”
Bettye Dukes is not suffering from any indecision for this election.
“It was an easy decision for me,” Dukes said. “According to the things said on TV, it wasn’t
hard to make that decision.”
“Clinton is shining all the way.”
Dukes biggest reason for supporting Clinton is the behavior of Trump.
“What president is going to get on TV and say those kinds of words out loud?” Dukes said.
“And he’s talking about bombing people. My daughter is in the Navy.”
When the two are compared, Dukes sees Clinton having more poise and self-control for
someone who might be dealing with the stress of being the president of the United States.
Zach Saranthus