Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Thursday, October 30, 2008

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Jarod Christopher (McCain) helps Addie Martin (Palin) with her patriotic pin before the mock debate at Athens-Chilesburg Elementary School.

Serious issues and a festive atmosphere made for a lively mock presidential debate at Athens-Chilesburg Elementary School.

“Maybe they have a different view of the candidates now,” said fifth-grader Addie Martin, who popped the lenses out of her sunglasses to complete her Sarah Palin look.

Four students posed as the major candidates and running mates Thursday for a 25-minute scripted debate hosted by Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who has two young daughters.

“Hearing their classmates, students are more likely to listen” to the issues, he said beforehand. “For the kids actually doing the debate, they’re going to get a lot out of it.”

The candidates greeted young voters as they streamed into the gym before the town hall showdown. Donning red, white and blue plastic hats and waving miniature American flags, the kids really got into the spirit of the day.

Marianne McClure sat front and center to watch son Noah Welch portray Joe Biden. She said the fifth-graders’ classes had already engaged them in the political season as they’ve examined the candidates’ ads and polled neighbors to ask who they plan to vote for on Nov. 4 and why.

“It’s fun to hear him come home and hear what he talked about at the lunch table with his friends,” said McClure, who noted that Noah was a tad disappointed he didn’t get to write Biden’s speaking part.

Lori Vogel, a child guidance specialist at ACE, cobbled the script together from the real-life debates rather than leave it up to the students. “We did change it a little bit, based on their thoughts,” she said.

All the kids had fun with their roles, saying it was a neat experience to pretend to be the candidates. “I felt important, and now I know what it’s like to be in an election with all the fans cheering for you,” said Jarod Christopher, who played John McCain.

“I’m proud of myself and all of the candidates for working so hard,” added Jack Jackson, who portrayed Barack Obama.

Grayson opened the assembly with a reference to the first televised debate in 1960 between Kennedy and Nixon, and he noted that nowadays there are three presidential debates. “A lot of people watch with an open mind” to hear the candidates’ stances on the issues and see how they respond under pressure, he told the ACE students.

The four youngsters in the spotlight used inflections and expressions to help make their points during their mock debate. “If you don’t know that much about them, you could have the wrong idea about the candidates,” Addie explained.

Grayson, who chairs the State Board of Elections, encouraged the children to always be informed and to get involved, especially after they turn 18 and can vote.

Age didn’t matter Thursday at ACE, where everyone got a chance to cast a ballot. The older kids used an actual voting machine supplied by Grayson’s office, while the younger ones used the simple Online Presidential Election Simulator run by the school district.

Dozens of schools across Fayette County participated in the mock presidential election; watch for the districtwide results Monday Nov. 3 at www.fcps.net.

• Questions at the town hall meeting