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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchiveGrade Level: 6-12
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A Close Race
In the final days and final hours of the 2000 Presidential race, the two leading candidates are so close in the polls it's a statistical dead heat. George W. Bush, the Republican candidate, and Al Gore, the Democratic candidate, are both barnstorming in high political fashion in key undecided states. Both are trying to come up with the 270 Electoral votes needed to win.
153 Electoral votes remain up for grabs in nine states. Bush and Gore continue to campaign hard in Florida and Pennsylvania. Bush enjoys a slight edge in Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Tennessee, Gore’s home state. Gore has a slight edge in Washington state, and seems securely ahead in Michigan and Illinois.
This week's online lesson invites you to examine the leading Democratic and Republican candidates.
The Candidates and the Issues
Start this week's lesson by taking a final look at the candidates and the issues. There are many great places on the web that can help you do this. One of the best is MSNBC's interactive guide Bush vs. Gore: Clashing on the Issues. Click one of the issues listed as tabs in the header, issues ranging from social security and prescription drugs to campaign finance reform. For each issue you will find a summary of the candidate's position. Which issues are most important to you? Which do you think are unimportant? How do you respond to the candidates' positions?
Speak Out
Which candidate would you vote for? There are several things you should consider when deciding who will receive your vote for President of the United States. Character is important, along with integrity and decorum. The President should be an experienced statesman and a good public speaker. As Chief Executive, he or she should be knowledgeable and respected. Most importantly, the candidate you vote for should represent your views and opinions.
How do you know which candidate best represents your views on important issues in this election? A good site to visit and find out is SpeakOut.com, which features a comparison tool called Vote Match.
You will be asked a series of questions about your opinions on various issues. Start the quiz by clicking Don't Save (this let's you skip the registration process). The first sections asks you about individual rights. Read the statement carefully, and then click to show if you strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree, or have no opinion. If you want to know more about each issue statement, click on it. Click Next at the bottom of the page to move on to the next eight categories
When you are finished, review your ranking. Based on your responses, the calculator will rate the candidates who agree most with your opinions. Which candidate tops your list? Who is at the bottom?
Election 2000 with Jeeves
For a comprehensive list of election-related resources, visit Ask Jeeves Election Tour. Using the drop-down menus, find and visit resources for the candidate you support. Visit the candidate's official web site, or find out about important elections in your state. And for some fun, check out the Trivia page. This is a great place to explore.
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