Election story

Written for reporting class, lemme know what you think!



A race fueled by gender politics helped a blue state fight off the wave of red that swept up the country on Election Night, Tuesday.
Prior to the results, voters experienced ad-nauseam between the two nominees, Michael Bennet and Ken Buck, with every other televised commercial spent trying to woo undecided voters. Women, especially, were targeted, with women’s issues being one of the greatest differences between the two, with Bennet ultimately winning the votes of the feminine side of Colorado.
Bennet’s ads stressed that Buck was unfavorable to women who used the pill or supported the pro-choice movement. He also implied that Buck looked at women in an unfavorable light, quoting him as saying he was qualified due to “not wearing high heels.”
However, Buck and Bennet also disagreed on an educational platform, an issue that may have proved more polarizing for many women voters. Bennet’s campaign carefully got the attention of women voters, and then got them to care about bigger, more current issues.
“I really think that [Bennet’s] stance on higher education is the most important issue,” said Lauren Segal, who was found pleading with student voters about the importance of higher education Tuesday afternoon.
“This is an extremely important election for students,” Segal continued, “We need a senator who understands that.”
While Bennet was not extremely vocal about his platform on the issue of education, his campaign included assaults on Buck’s rigorous plans to try and eliminate both student loans and the Department of Education, two vitally important issues for today’s young men and women.
“I’m really more concerned about amendment 60, than anything else” said Lorena Hernandez, a student at Arapahoe Community College, “Education is the most important thing right now, to me at least.”
Amendment 60, one of Colorado’s “bad three” amendments, would have cut public school funding, the measure was resoundingly voted down, with only 17% of voters in favor of it.
“Honestly, I’m most concerned about student loans and [Buck’s] anti-women status,” said Amber Gallegos, also a student at ACC, “I work two jobs already and without a loan I still wouldn’t be able to get an education.”
Gallegos’ sentiments reflect that of a nation looking at more pressing issues to help decide on a candidate, with issues like abortion having taken a back seat to financial and economic issues.
“I don’t care if they wear high heels, I just want to know they’ve got my back when it comes to my diploma,” said Gallegos.