by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Patricia Madrid, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, said the war in Iraq is the most important issue in this year's elections.
"I am running for this race because we need to change this administration's failed foreign policy," she said.
Madrid, New Mexico's attorney general, spoke in front of Zimmerman Library on Thursday.
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She said President Bush does not have an effective plan for dealing with Iraq.
"Staying the course is not a policy," she said. "Staying the course is paralysis."
About 60 people attended the 15-minute speech.
Madrid is running against incumbent Republican Heather Wilson.
A Wilson supporter tried to film Madrid's speech, but several of Madrid's supporters followed him around holding "Madrid for Congress" and "Fire Haliburton Heather from Congress" signs in front of his camera.
Madrid said Wilson is at fault for the problems in Iraq.
"Heather Wilson has been with him (Bush) every step of the way," she said. "Either Heather Wilson didn't ask the hard questions, or she knew the answers and decided to look the other way. For that, she deserves to be fired."
Madrid said she will try to improve financial aid for college students if she is elected.
"We have got to make going to college more affordable for the children of the working men and women in this country," she said.
Madrid said students should care about the U.S.'s foreign policy.
"Students, like the rest of the population, should be very concerned about our foreign policy," she said.
Madrid said the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan impact U.S. students. The money spent on the wars could be spent on improving financial aid, she said.
Dustin Taylor, co-chairman of UNM's
College Democrats, said students should be eager to vote in this year's elections.
"Democrats are going to be more beneficial to college students," he said. "The best way to take the power away from Bush is to vote for Democrats in this election, instead of waiting another two years for the presidential elections."
