Tennessee Democratic voters angry with President Bush chose JohnKerry as his challenger, proving the Massachusetts senator cancompete in the South. But for some University of Memphis students,the win was just another chapter in the book they're notreading.
"I (didn't) feel right about voting in Tuesday's primariesbecause I have not put forth the effort to keep up with the issuesat hand," said Jeremy Houston, U of M advertising major.
Exit polls Tuesday showed Kerry won a significant victory overhis closest rivals, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and retiredGen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas.
"East. West. North. And, today, in the South," Kerry told theAssociated Press after winning Virginia, the only other state tohave a primary Tuesday. "It's exciting and gratifying."
Kerry may be excited, but that isn't carrying over to some U ofM students, who didn't seem enthused about Tuesday's primaries ortheir chance to participate in them.
"Most likely I will not vote, just because I am too busy to keepup with current politics," Elaina Magnus, marketing managementmajor, said before the primaries closed Tuesday.
But for some, the question on whether or not to vote is basedmore in personal ideologies and party lines than interest.
"The reason I don't vote is because the electoral system iscontrolled by private sectors, and the parties' ideologies areidentical and solely business based," said Antoris Smith, U of Mhistory major.
However, others around campus still tout the right to vote as animportant one.
"I think it is very important to vote," said MariaCapalad-Combs, public relations major. "I mean every vote can makea difference."
The difference made in Tuesday's primaries means at least one ofthe other candidates is likely to drop out as a result of Kerry'sSouthern victories, which gave him a total of 12 wins in the 14states that have held primaries or caucuses. Former Vermont Gov.Howard Dean -- who was endorsed by Al Gore -- hasn't won a contest,while Edwards and Clark have one apiece.
Clark and Edwards were in a close race for second place inTennessee, with the other candidates far behind, which surprisedsome in The U of M community who thought Dean would do better inthis area.
"Both Clark and Edwards have done really well in Memphis, butDean has been most active for a longer period of time in Memphis,"Ann Mulhearn, adviser of Students for Dean, said before yesterday'sprimary results were in. "If everything works out as planned, Deanshould poll surprisingly well in Memphis."
U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, said he believes Tuesday'svictories will seal Kerry's nomination.
"There's some more states left, but Kerry shows sufficientmomentum that at this point he will be the nominee," Coopersaid.
Most Tennesseans voting in the primary said they were angry withPresident Bush, opposed to the war in Iraq and worried about thenation's economy, according to an Associated Press exit poll.
"Many people are ready to elect a new administration," saidformer Tennessee Gov. Ned McWherter, a Democrat who endorsed Kerrythis weekend. "It boils down to personal feelings, and it's jobs.... At one time someone said, 'It's the economy, stupid.' Now,'It's the jobs, stupid."'
Many voters like Robert Wilson, 77, of Knoxville think Kerry is"the best bet" to defeat Bush in November.
Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Randy Button said Kerry has"been tested in this race, stayed firm, on message. He's the rightperson to go forward."
But retired Memphis nurse Bob Casey, 68, said after casting hisvote for Clark that he would choose Bush over Kerry. "I don't needany more of those liberals from back East," he said.
Tennessee had 69 pledged delegates up for grabs in theDemocratic contest.
Republicans also voted on Tuesday, though Bush had noopposition. "I'd rather be dead than vote for a Democrat," said KenBurnett, 70, of Knoxville.
Some U of M students also said they still approve of Bush andthink he's the best person to lead the country.
Todd Cole, U of M psychology major, said he didn't vote in theDemocratic primaries "because I think we should keep our currentpresident in office because he is more knowledgeable about thecurrent situation overseas."
In the 2000 general election, Tennessee voted Republican to helpelect Bush and rejected Gore, the former vice president who callsTennessee home.
Staff reporter Christina Morgan and the Associated Presscontributed to this report.
