As the final week before Election Tuesday begins, nobody seems to have any answers as to just who or who may not hold the lead in this year’s presidential election. As more and more politicos seem to agree that the House may yet again remain in control of the Republicans, the White House race seems just too close to call. In fact, the word “chaos” seems as apt as a descriptor as any. Charlie Cook, of the highly respected Cook Political Report has suggested that for the second time since the 2000 election, the winner of the popular vote might not be the winner of the Electoral College vote. This scenario was of course thought to be highly improbable, and had been a rare occurrence in American presidential politics. Then came the presidential election of 2000, an election still studied as an anomaly, a once in a thousand years occurrence. The idea that it could happen again, as improbable as it may seem now, is not impossible.

If there is one thing that this election cycle has proven, it is that there are still plenty of factors that could turn this race at any moment. Before Denver, there were few that thought much could hurt the Democratic incumbent in the race. Since his lackluster debate and the Republican candidate’s stellar performance in that first encounter, the race has tightened considerable, despite two other debates since then.

It would be foolish to downplay the possibility that something could, even at this late stage in the race, upset the race in favor of one candidate or the other. One wild card that could have an influence might be the recently passed Hurricane Sandy, which is even now continuing to cause problems up and down the Eastern seaboard. From New York to North Carolina, millions have been devastated. The next few days will be crucial for the current incumbent. All eyes will be on the White House to gauge his response to the latest natural disaster to strike the U.S., and the President is acutely aware of this.

But when it’s all said and done, will Sandy really have an impact on the race? It’s too early to tell, but with Katrina still on the minds of many around the country, a repeat of 2005 would almost certainly spell disaster for the President. Mr. Romney, on the other hands, has had to answer to some inquiries of his own, as many have taken a second look at his stances on disaster relief, which include giving more autonomy to the states or the private sector in times of crises. Rhetoric or not, it has raised questions about how the challenger would respond to a crisis of this scale. For anyone still undecided this late in the race, there is certainly no shortage of information of advertisements coming from both sides of the aisle, but ultimately what could decide this race could be out of the hands of either party.

Hey Everyone,

I know that I’m a bit behind in the Podcasts currently, but no worries, we will be completely up to date tonight. All of our great shows in past few weeks will be accessible through iTunes within 12 hours.

Thanks for bearing with me,

Deondre’ Jones

Public Affairs Assistant Director

EDIT: Might take a little bit longer, technical difficulties.

Tonight marks only the second time in this campaign season that the sitting president will face off against his Republican rival. There’s been much anticipation over the upcoming debate, being held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. The talking heads and the blogosphere have been abuzz since the strong performance Mitt Romney gave at the first debate on October 3^rd. Romney received much praise for his performance, while Obama was criticized as having been lackluster, even apathetic toward a seemingly critical moment in the presidential campaign.

For Romney, the first debate was a crucial “make or break” moment for his presidential ambitions. For weeks beforehand (and especially after the Republican National Convention in early September) Romney struggled with one problem after another. The 47% comment; being outshined by a chair at the RNC; the criticism he received after the Libyan ambassador’s death. The Republican contender struggled to maintain his position in the polls, lagging behind Obama in many critical swing states; Conservative pundits felt almost dejected. Many were hoping for some miracle before Election Day.

Obama, meanwhile, continued to do well in the polls not so much because of his actions, but almost seemingly in spite of them. Romney was Obama’s biggest help in the national polls; he, too gave a lackluster performance at his own convention, having been largely outshined by Bill Clinton the previous evening. And yet he held a comfortable lead in the electorate, so there was no need to worry, right?

Then came October 3^rd. The biggest reaction many people seemed to have toward that debate was surprise at how strongly Mitt Romney debated. It wasn’t so much that the President debated poorly; it was simply that it was obvious his contender was much more prepared and eager than the sitting President. But this little detail has made all the difference. In the two weeks since the debate, Mitt Romney has surged, breathing new life into his once dejected supporters. Obama supporters, meanwhile, are wondering just how this could have happened with only one debate. The vice-presidential debate has been largely declared a tie, and has made seemingly little difference.

There are two more debates before the election; two more chances for Mr. Romney to continue his momentum and two more chances for Mr. Obama to turn around a campaign that has begun to lost some of its momentum. If there is one thing political observers and voters alike have learned, it is that as far as the voters are concerned, the race is far from over.

-Jake Langlois

On this week’s Eye on Triangle, we bring you stories from across NC State, as our contributor Jay speaks with students from the Democratic and Republican Parties. In addition, Lucia returns with another Eye on the Arts. Deondre’ spoke with a representative of one of the largest anti-drug organizations in the world. In addition, Gene has some new wacky science facts for us! Tune in at 7, it’s going to be a great show!

Hey Everyone,

Our show if filled to the brim with content for you all. Of course, we are bringing updates on the election, with an interview with Young Americans for Liberty. Third Party Candidates have increasing importance in this year’s election, so we’ve got more coverage on them as well. Also, we have a story dealing with women’s Orgasms and a bit of Weird Science. All that, plus Eye on the Arts and Holidays of the Week. It’s gonna be a great show tonight.

Thanks,

EOT

Hey Everyone,

So tonight, we’ve got cool stories for everyone to enjoy. Campus Crime has been recurring lately, so we’ve got some tips on how to stay safe. Next, a story on the upcoming Presidential Debate, and a very interesting piece on Third Party Candidates. As usual, we are also bringing Soundbytes from the Pack, Holidays of the Week and Community Calender.

Thanks,

EOT

Tonight, we’ve got a very school centered show! Nanotechnology is a rising trend in the world today, with which NC State is a spearhead. We’ve got a feature on Shack a thon, as well as Soundbytes on Marriage. Jake’s got a movie review as well. Tune in, in 3 minutes!

Hey Everyone,

Tonight, we’ve got a diverse lineup of stories for you all. Our contributors have brought coverage of the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention, as well as Herman Cain’s appearance on campus tomorrow. We’ve also got Soundbytes from the Brickyard about Voting. Phillip Farms are hosting a corn maze for Charity that is also Haunted, which Deondre’ has more news about. We’ve also got Eye on the Arts and a September 11th dedication. Tune in in 5 minutes.

Thanks,

EOT

Today marked the beginning of the Democratic National Convention, the Democratic Party’s response to the Republican National Convention, held last week in Tampa, Florida. This, of course, is an American tradition that dates back to the early 19^th century. The political convention allowed for the nation’s delegates to hammer our agreements on who would next run for president on behalf of a given party. The process was often contentious, uncertain, and confusing. Today, the nomination process lacks the wheeling and dealing of bygone conventions. Or rather, as a cynic might choose to believe, much of the wheeling and dealing is done long before the convention ever begins. What is left is a political convention that rarely contains upsets. A convention that is scripted down to the minute, spewing out endless pandering easily converted into a cable news sound bite.

There are those who believe this system is archaic, expensive, and outdated. Those that believe the conventions have outlived their purpose, that the conventions are little more than expensive excuses for politicians to celebrate themselves. And to be frank, there is a fair amount of pomp and circumstance to be found at these conventions. But there is another side, another purpose besides stroking the egos of politicians. The conventions are no longer important in deciding a party’s candidate. They do, however, allow the parties to present themselves to the American people, to put their best foot forward and to showcase the best and brightest each party has to offer. It is through these conventions fresh faces are introduced to the American public. Barack Obama first came to prominence this way in 2004. This year it is congressional candidate Mia Love and San Antonio mayor Julian Castro. And while the names change, the message does not; these are tomorrow’s political superstars.

But perhaps even more important than a wide-eyed politician’s five minutes in the spotlight is the opportunity for Americans to discuss what matters to them. This, of course, does not take place anywhere near the convention floor. The conventions are much too scripted to allow that to happen. But walking the streets of Charlotte, I spoke with fervent supporters of Barack Obama. I spoke with those who felt disenchanted with the president. I spoke with those who felt the entire Democratic Party was a joke. I spoke with immigration activists, Occupy Wall Street protestors, and pro-life activists. And all of these people could be found within four blocks of the Charlotte Convention Center. It doesn’t matter which party is celebrating itself inside the convention. Outside, supporters and detractors alike are deciding for themselves who will be the next president. And that’s why we need these political conventions.

Jake Langlois in Charlotte, North Carolina

Hey guys,

Did you all catch EOT tonight? If not, don’t worry, because this week’s and last week’s show have been podcasted. This week had a great segment about the Democratic National Convention and Food Trucks on campus. Along with campaign ad fallacies, with a great segment about Local Arts.

Thanks,

EOT

Hey everyone,

We’ve got some great segments tonight about Neil Armstrong, the Republican National Convention  and the Farmer’s Market on campus. Also, we have a very cool interview with the Chancellor airing tonight! Check us out in 5 minutes!

Thanks,

EOT

Hey Everyone,

This show, we’ll be airing several stories that feature words from everyday students here at State. Every student is different in their own way. We’ll be hearing different opinions on Chik-Fil-A, what some students spent their summer doing, and final thoughts on Packapalooza and welcome week. In addition, we’ve got news about the 1250 pint Blood Drive that took place on the 17th!

Thanks,

EOT

Hey Everyone,

We will be out in the brickyard over the next few days, asking about the Chik-Fil-A controversy, so please give your opinion to us. We have interest meetings this coming Monday and Tuesday, so if you’d like to become a DJ or help out with us on EOT, come out. Also, podcast for this week’s show coming out with the next two hours.

Thanks,

EOT

Hey Everyone,

So today’s Eye on the Triangle will be airing at 7, as usual, and is chock full of content. We have stories for you guys about the Bell Tower and it’s history, Chick-Fil-A, and an interview with a representative from the District of Academics and Student Affairs. We also have some quirky holidays for you all, a movie review of Car, community calender and a viewpoint on slowing down a bit. Hope you all enjoy.

Thanks,

EOT

Hey everyone!

Tonight we’ve got a great Welcome Week Themed show that features interviews from the Inter-Residence council, UAB and Student Affairs! Plus, a great Batman movie review and a story about the Durham job market.

Thanks,

EOT