McCain's Presidential Campaign Supported by Ferris Republican Group
by Sandy Gholston, May 1, 2008
Robbie Rankey, chairman of the College Republicans of Ferris State University and first vice chair of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, views this upcoming presidential election as one of the most important decisions in recent memory.
Senator John McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee and appears likely to oppose one of the two Democratic finalists and rivals: Senator Barack Obama or Senator Hillary Clinton. Rankey, a junior from Bay City who is majoring in Business Administration, is excited about the experience that he believes a potential McCain presidency could mean for the United States. While Obama and Clinton continue to engage in their bitterly-contested primary, McCain has been traveling around the United States introducing and re-introducing himself and familiarizing people with his record.
"Quite simply, he has the most experience and know-how to get the job done. He has been in office longer than both senators Obama and Clinton combined," Rankey said. "But, what's more, even after more than 20 years in the (United States) Senate, he still sticks to his principles and continues to fight for transparency in our government. He is looking out for the American people, and I think that's something that really sticks out for many voters."
Among the most important issues in this campaign, according to Rankey, is the status of economy in addition to health care and the ongoing war on terror.
"First, I see the economy here at home as a very important issue. Nearly every day, in my business classes, you hear another story about some new concern that our economy faces," Rankey said. "Inflation is too high, the value of the dollar is falling and something needs to be done; the next president is going to have to address this issue. Second, the war on terror is certainly a concern. We need to keep our troops there to continue to do the work that needs to be done in building democracy and (establishing) freedoms where there were none previously. The next president is going to have tremendous influence on the future of this issue.
"Finally, health care is an issue that no candidate can afford to overlook. We need to look into privatizing health care for those who are willing to make their own choices," Rankey added. "This will create competition in a market where competition is rare, driving down prices and increasing efficiency. We also need to look into some sort of remedy for those who are out of work or unable to work because the state cannot continue to fund these programs on their own; they are continually expensive and take a huge chunk of our national/state budgets."
Locally, Rankey is hopeful to continue Ferris' tradition of political engagement on campus. He and his organization plan to host some spirited discussions in the spring, summer and early fall - the period leading up to November's general election.
"In the past, we have participated in political forums and debates. Currently, we are looking at campaigning statewide this summer with fellow college Republicans," Rankey said. "A number of local candidates and organizations are also soliciting our help. We have a number of events in mind for this fall, including speakers, (distributing fliers) and active campaigning in the weeks and months leading up to the election. Ferris students can have an impact on this election by getting informed on the issues and having those discussions with their friends. They need to realize that this election is going to determine, in large part, the direction of our country."
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