Taylor, who has been following the campaign closely, actually knew the Republican candidate personally. "Bush lived at my house for six months and I used to babysit his kid," Taylor says.

Richard H. Dinh '98 also met the younger Bush. "He lived right across the street from my friend," Dinh says.

But despite their personal connections with the candidate, Taylor and Dinh both stress that they support Bush for purely political reasons.

"Bush brings a lot of good ideas to the state," Taylor says. "And Richards has been an extremely controlling governor. Her liberal policies have been detrimental to Texas in terms of economics."

The majority of students from Texas who were contacted did not comment, claiming that they were not informed enough to participate in the election.

New York

In New York, Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo has surged in the polls after the recent endorsement by Republican New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. Still, he is threatened by Republican State Senator George Pataki, who led by as many as 10 points in the early weeks of the campaign.

Lauren A. Hammer '98, a New York resident, says she has been pleased with Cuomo's platforms and successes.

"I do not want to see New York state go Republican," Hammer says, maintaining that Cuomo needs to be reinstated because "he pushes more social reform."

Others criticize Cuomo's record in office. "Time and time again [Cuomo] has failed to deliver on promises," says Victor Chiappa '98 of Holbrook, New York. "For example, he hasn't cut taxes and he hasn't increased state aid for education."

Virginia

Virginians are faced with perhaps the most surprising senatorial race, where incumbent Democrat Charles Robb is trailing the once embattled--and almost convicted--former Iran-Gate icon Oliver North.

Although North is unpopular in many parts of the country, political experts say the situation is quite different in Virginia.

"[North] is uncontrollable," said Republican pollster Frank Luntz at an Institute of Politics panel Wednesday. "But he has amazing fundraising and his support is very intense."

However, Virginian Jordanna M. Brodsky '98 is voting for Robb mainly to keep North out of office.