By Jessie Gorges, photo editor

Like most registered voters, sophomore Aaron Pauls will wait in line on Nov. 4 to cast his ballot for president. While some voters may keep their favorite candidate a secret, it’s no surprise whom Pauls will vote for. Although Fred Thompson was his first choice, Pauls thinks John McCain is a suitable candidate for president.

In addition to being a McCain advocate, Pauls is involved in Concert Choir, the English Club and intramurals when he has the free time. Between class and extracurriculars, the 19-year-old English major spends his time helping students in the Writing Center.

Although Pauls appears to have a busy schedule, he still finds time to keep up with the presidential race. He feels strongly about McCain’s pro-life platform. He also feels confident about McCain’s Iraq war platform. “McCain will finish the war with a victory,” Pauls said.

Limited government is another aspect of the platform Pauls supports. Limited government, which includes financial stances such as less taxation and the deregulation of the nation’s trade policy, is key to McCain’s position.

Although Pauls supports McCain’s candidacy, he does not fervently support all of McCain’s political ideas.
“I don’t like his immigration policy at all,” he said.
Pauls thinks that by securing the border and cracking down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants, the nation would better control immigration in America.

Whether or not Pauls agrees with all of McCain’s policies, he understands the need for young voters to become aware of each candidate’s platforms so they can eliminate the person they do not want to vote for. “You need to know what you believe in,” he said.

He thinks that young voters should not vote for a candidate based on one policy. “So many politicians go after (stand for) one policy because it sounds nice,” Pauls said.

These values have shaped Pauls’ political beliefs, which he attributes mostly to his family. “I hold a couple of views different from my parents,” he said.

Unlike his parents, he does not support the death penalty. Even though Pauls has a few views that oppose those of his parents, he still holds his Republican values.

The Republican Party held its national convention on Sept. 1-4. Speakers such as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney spoke at the convention to inspire its party members.

“Sarah Palin had as many viewers (at the convention) as Obama,” Pauls said. He also discovered that this year’s convention had more viewers than any other.

Pauls, with the rest of America, will get to see which party inspired the most people on Nov. 4, Election Day.

Editor's note: See the previous edition of The Crimson Chronicle for a profile of a student active in the presidential race on the Democratic side.