The upcoming election for student body president may be one of the most lopsided in recent memory, according to a Daily poll conducted on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.
The poll, for which the Daily questioned approximately 360 diners in Dewick, Carmichael, and the campus center, suggests that Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate Vice President Eric Greenberg has a commanding lead over Senate Treasurer Michele Shelton. Of those polled, 172 students said they favor Greenberg, and 34 chose Shelton.
Still, 154 of those polled said they were either undecided, didn't know the candidates, or didn't even know there was an election - and though Shelton trails in the poll, she is confident there are enough undecided students to swing the Wednesday election.
"It's going to be a close race," she said. "It's one thing for people to say who you're going to vote for, but it's going to come down to which side can actually get people out to Dewick, Carmichael, and the campus center to vote for them."
Shelton plans to step up her campaign efforts among underclassmen, where Greenberg holds a sizeable lead, by going door-to-door in as many dorms as possible.
"I think that the last three days of the campaign are the most important," she said. "It's going to be a tough three days, but I'm confident I can get enough undecided votes. It's those people that are important to get to in those three days. I'll be going to the dorms, talking to people in the dining halls. I hope to get to as many people as possible."
Grass roots campaigning may be the deciding factor in determining the next president, as many students surveyed said that they were in favor of Greenberg because he had stopped by their rooms as part of his campaign.
"I've been walking around dorms and talking to people personally," Greenberg said. "I've been trying to make the conversations less me touting myself and asking for their opinions on how to run Senate and their issues."
Although the poll projects Greenberg to win the race, he says he has work to do before election day.
"Things can change in a matter of days. The only results I'm going to concern myself with are the ones on Wednesday night," he said. "I have to keep talking to people because part of my campaign and part of what I want to do next year is reconnect with everyone."
Broken down by class, the sophomores proved to be the most politically aware, with the fewest undecided votes, while undecided or apathetic answers were most common from seniors.
The candidates will square off in an official debate in Hotung Caf?© at 7 p.m. this evening, their last official meeting before the final day of hard campaigning. Shelton, however, does not think the debate will give her an opportunity to gain ground on her opponent.
"I really think that it's become more of a focused audience - the people who are there know us both already, and what we stand for," she said.
Greenberg said the debate will be an opportunity to stress the differences in leadership styles between him and Shelton, as well as to focus on his theme of reconnecting with the student body. He expects questions to focus on the proposal to give voting rights to culture representatives that will be on the ballot Wednesday, as well as how both candidates would implement student outreach measures.
