February 27, 2008

Missouri Senator Visits OWU

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill “fires up” her audience. Click here for more photos from this event.

“Fired Up!” she began.

“Ready to go!” responded the audience which included students, OWU faculty and staff, and members of the Delaware community.

McCaskill described her own journey as the first woman from Missouri to be elected to the U.S. Senate. “It was hard,” she admitted, “as a woman.”

She then gave her reasons for supporting Obama in this year’s presidential campaign. They include:

• The value of Obama’s experience because he has it on various levels of structure. “He is the only person to work with both Democrats and Republicans,” she said.
• The tone he sets. “I’ve watched how he gets things done,” she said, as she noted his avoidance of negative ads in the campaign.
• His appeal to the independent voter in America.

“There is no one in America who understands what we are all going through like Barack and Michelle Obama,” she said with a smile.

McCaskill urged all to vote, as Ohio is very influential in the elections.

“Here it comes, and guess what…it’s in your lap,” she said.

The audience was very engaged in the question-and-answer portion, and McCaskill was even asked if she would join Obama’s cabinet if he were to win the election. She answered that she is committed to completing her term as senator.

“She was straightforward. It was really great to hear from a senator who has worked with all three candidates,” said Kyle Herman ’11, a leader in the campus group Students for Barack Obama.

“We’re not going to be senators, but we get to mingle with them,” said Kevin Fahey ’09, who is also a member of the Delaware community. “She is one of those politicians that isn’t a politician. I like straight talk.”

– Shade Fakunle ’10