BOCA RATON — Just feet away from Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, people gathered at Lynn University’s soccer field Monday to watch the final Presidential Debate.
About 700 students, sponsors and invited guests gathered from 5 p.m. on to watch the live debate on three blow-up screens and two televisions.
Throughout the debate, attendees remained consistent with their cheering for both candidates. The Romney fans were consistently louder, and a few even screamed “liar” during Obama’s closing statements. But everyone came together to celebrate whenever Boca Raton or Lynn University was mentioned.
Back in Gainesville, politically active students were pleased with their candidates’ performances.
“We had so many high moments,” said Gators for Obama co-chair and 20-year-old political science junior Rachel McGovern. “It was very exciting to see President Obama basically fact-check Gov. Romney on the spot.”
UF College Republicans chairwoman Katy Melchiorre, a 21-year-old political science and telecommunication senior, said the debate’s dynamic seemed different than those of the other two.
“Romney laid out real plans and achievable goals for our country. Obama spoke in a lot of political rhetoric and just attacked Romney,” she said. “I thought that he acted more presidential than the president himself.”
Contact Julia Glum at jglum@alligator.org, Meredith Rutland at mrutland@alligator.org and Samantha Shavell at sshavell@alligator.org.
