Megan Hulshizar hasn’t decided which presidential candidate to support heading into Wednesday’s debate watch party.

As she watched the debate at the OU Votes: 2008 in 2008 Final Debate Watch Party in Beaird Lounge in Oklahoma Memorial Union, Hulshizar said the lack of focus on substantive issues won’t help her make up her mind.

“This election has been real character driven,” the international area studies and German sophomore said. “I want to see what their issues are and who would be good for our failing economy.”

Wednesday night’s debate was the final opportunity for voters like Hulshizar to see a debate between Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and the watch party drew a large crowd from both sides of the aisle, as well as those in the middle.

Daniel Swanson, chairman of the Oklahoma College Republicans and marketing junior, said the main focus should be on the struggling global economy, but there are many other issues that need to be discussed.

“Polls show the economy situation is the number one issue,” Swanson said. “But, they need to let people know it’s not the only issue facing Americans.”

Sam Ikard, president of Sooners for Obama and political science junior, said McCain’s performance in Wednesday’s debate was “less restricted than I thought it would be.”

He said he thinks the McCain campaign has turned somewhat negative recently, while Obama continued to focus on the issues.

The difference in McCain and Obama’s campaign strategies should provide undecided voters a clearer picture, Ikard said.

“I don’t see how someone can look at them both with the same level of seriousness,” Ikard said.

Undecided voters, like Hulshizar, still have a large part in this election, though Obama has established a lead in national polls.

Hulshizar said there was no one issue that would help her make up her mind, but the economic struggles will play a large part in her decision.

“The debt we’re in right now is something our generation will have to deal with,” she said. “It’d be great to hear just a straight answer.”

Another undecided voter, Derek Case, International Area Studies sophomore, said foreign policy, the economy and student loans are the issues most important to him.

“I still haven’t made a final decision yet,” he said. “I’m kind of just waiting.”

Wednesday’s debate watch party was sponsored by Young Democrats, College Republicans, the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, the Union Programming Board and Sooners for Israel.

The debate was originally scheduled to focus on foreign policy issues, but most of the discourse between the candidates focused on the economy, tax policy and other domestic issues.

“Whoever is elected will shift world views of this country,” said Zach Messitte, director of the International Programs Center who spoke to students before the debate.