Correction: The story should have said Bill Donohue is voting for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, not undecided.
Brandon Knight
Economics senior
Independent, Green Party
Who are you voting for: Granholm
What would you have liked to hear or see from either candidate?
"Environmental issues left out of debate once again. When will Michigan have a renewable energy portfolio standard?"
What was Granholm's best argument or response?
"Granholm's idea of increasing fees for out-of-state trash in Michigan to fund recycling is a great idea."
What was DeVos' best argument or response?
"Trade laws affecting Michigan affect all states."
Charles Ballard
Economics professor
Who are you voting for: Granholm
What would you have liked to hear or see from either candidate?
"Neither candidate mentioned the income tax as a replacement for the (Single Business Tax), and that's unfortunate. Because of the huge widening of the gap between rich and poor, the income tax is the best choice."
What was Granholm's best argument or response?
"Pick on somebody your own size."
What was Devos' best argument or response?
"It was good that he says tuition is too high (although if his tax-cut proposals are enacted, tuition will have to skyrocket).
Peter Spadafore
Senior representative of James Madison College Student Senate
Who are you voting for: Undecided
What would you have liked to hear or see from either candidate?
"From both candidates, I would like to hear more direct answers to the questions that were asked."
What was Granholm's best argument or response?
"We have to invest in our human capital if we are going to transform Michigan."
What was DeVos' best argument or response?
"I'm ready to help Michigan … and like it to succeed."
Emily Mixter
Political science junior
Democrat
Who are you voting for: Granholm
What would you have liked to hear or see from either candidate?
"I would like to hear both candidates' stances on Proposal 2, the environment and education. Also I would most like to hear specifics of DeVos' economic plan. Also I would like to hear about issues other than the economy and jobs, even though these issues are important."
What was Granholm's best argument or response?
"Her education and economic policies are well thought through and are trying to make it better in Michigan for workers and students."
What was DeVos' best argument or response?
"His overall arguments have improved and have shown growth in his style of speaking."
Ross Emmett
Associate professor of economics
Moderate
Who are you voting for: Undecided
What would you have liked to hear or see from either candidate?
"I'd like to hear the governor admit that free trade is a good thing. She calls for 'fair trade,' but her policies are only mercantilism rehashed. Old economics for old industrial model. We need a real policy framework for the future, not old zero-sum thinking."
What was Granholm's and DeVos' best arguments or responses?
"Best debate — (both) stuck to issues."
Matt Moss
Telecommunication, information studies and media sophomore
Democrat
Voting for: Granholm
What was missing?
"I thought they did a good job of talking about education: college and K-12. Gov. Granholm has a lot of good plans to make Michigan even better, when DeVos can come up with a new statement."
What was Granholm's best statement?
"Gov. Granholm did a great job talking about ways to improve the city of Detroit. She has a plan for new housing, auto insurance and health care in order to make the city better."
What was DeVos' best statement?
"Someone asked Mr. DeVos if he would stop Michigan companies from having Canadian companies pay landfills for their trash in our state, which generates a lot of money. He said he would make that a priority for him, but Dick, that generates money and gives Michigan jobs. Why don't you want Canadian trash?"
Bill Donohue
Communication professor
Mostly Democratic
Voting for: Undecided
What was missing?
"From DeVos — more specifics about how to replace lost revenues from tax cuts. He has no substantive vision about how to bring Michigan back. From Granholm — how she would increase investment in higher education."
What was Granholm's best statement?
"She has an economic plan that is paying dividends and bringing jobs to Michigan."
What was DeVos' best statement?
"School performance is down, dropout rate is up, crime is up."
Dennis Bentley
Political science junior
MSU College Republicans
Voting for: DeVos
What was missing?
"I would like to hear the candidates talk more about what the future of Michigan's economy is going to look like. What kinds of jobs are going to be available in this state in the next 20 to 30 years? As college-age students we need to know just what kind of jobs we can expect to have."
What was Granholm's best statement?
"Jennifer Granholm spent a lot of time talking about past administration and the current situation in Washington. In addition to that she spent a lot of time talking about how she would use the government to solve Michigan's problem. The problem is Jennifer Granholm is an incumbent governor running for re-election, not a candidate running for governor. Granholm, at this point, should be talking about what she did for Michigan, not what she is going to do. As a sitting governor, if she can't say what she has done for us in the four years she has been in office, then why send her back for another four years?"
What was DeVos' best statement?
"DeVos' best issues were on the economy. As a successful businessman, he clearly knows the economy inside and out. With the economic crisis we are in, this is the kind of leader you want. We need a man who understands out problems and knows how to solve them."
