Mock debate focuses on major party candidate policies

The final presidential debate of this year’s election is two days away, but the political science and economics clubs at Idaho State University hosted one on Monday to inform people where the major party candidates stand on economic issues.

Dan Cravens, director of Bengal Solutions, stood in to speak on Donald Trump’s stance on these issues while economics professor Dan Urban took to the podium of Hillary Clinton’s.

Besides looking at Trump’s website, Cravens said he had to dig through Trump’s speeches to get an understanding of where he stood.

“Hopefully we’ve done some of the homework for voters so they can look and see (where each candidate stands),” Cravens said.

Cravens and Urban each had a few minutes to answer questions centered around issues like raising the minimum wage, maintaining social security and the idea of free college tuition in the country. In each answer, both described how their candidates viewed the issues and explored the economical implications of them.

Urban said he hopes the debate inspires students to be more informed beyond this election.

“Even if the issues aren’t necessarily brought up in this election season, for the rest of their lives they’re going to have a better understanding of how these things work,” he said.

Cravens and Urban said they’re not necessarily committed to either candidate they spoke for in the debate.