Sparks also flew between students at the Democrat and Republican tents outside Aggie Memorial Stadium, as each side debated who won Friday's presidential debate.
Freshman Ian Patterson-Schnell, who works with Students for Barack Obama at NMSU, said Obama was successful in the debate because he was straightforward with his responses and addressed issues people are concerned about.
"I thought it was a well-played-out debate, and Obama stuck it to (John) McCain on issues like the war," Patterson-Schnell said. "I think the audience liked it. They liked what Obama was saying."
Patrick Dylan of the UNM College Republicans said Obama used weak tactics during the debate, such as trying to show similarities between McCain and President Bush.
"McCain set the agenda for the debate, but Obama tried to make links between McCain and Bush," Dylan said. "Obama did not seem to develop his own arguments as well as McCain."
Obama said McCain made poor decisions about the war in Iraq and the search for weapons of mass destruction. He said McCain supported the war because he thought it was going to be an easy success.
"The war started in 2003, and at the time when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy," Obama said. "You said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were. You were wrong. You said that we were going to be greeted as liberators. You were wrong."
McCain answered Obama's allegations by saying his past decisions have a different bearing on how he would act in office.
"The next president of the United States is not going to have to address the issue as to whether we went into Iraq or not," McCain said. "The next president of the United States is going to have to decide how we leave, when we leave and what we leave behind."
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Dylan said it is important for students to know what the candidate's platforms are after the first presidential debate.
College Republicans were at Saturday's tailgate to support and energize Republican voters in Las Cruces.
"People that would otherwise not consider voting Republican might gain confidence if they see us out here supporting Republicans," Dylan said.
He said it's popular among students to support Obama, and this alone could weaken McCain's chances.
"People might not vote for McCain if they think they are the only ones voting Republican," he said.
Political science professor Lonna Atkeson said the candidates presented solid platforms and
demonstrated their individual strengths at the debate. She said they shared one main flaw, however, as they did not elaborate on their economic stances and how they fit within their platforms.
"They thought about the issue in the moment, but not how it impacted their future policies and economic plans," Atkeson said.
Atkeson said the candidates should focus more on presenting
specific policies, as they are becoming more similar as the election nears.
"They both moderated their positions, and in many ways they are more similar than they used to be," she said.
