People glanced at the television in the Kern Building lobby as CNN's Crossfire began. Minutes later, Robert Novak, one of the show's regular co-hosts, walked into the lounge area, right behind the TV set.

Instead of watching him over a live broadcast, more than 100 people came to hear Novak speak in person in 112 Kern last night. In a lecture coordinated by Penn State's Young Americans for Freedom, Novak discussed the recent presidential election and the challenges newly inaugurated President Bush now faces.

"In Washington, I'm known as the Prince of Darkness," said Novak during the beginning of his speech, "Washington: An Overview." After this declaration, he listed three comments he always heard during the national elections he has covered, which guided his presentation.

"In a big country like this, is this the best we could come up with for running for President?" Novak asked, relating his first frequently heard comment. Later in his talk, he explained how, in his opinion, Al Gore and George W. Bush became candidates.

He said that after his time as vice president, Gore's rise to candidacy was inevitable. Novak said becoming a Republican candidate usually depends on length of party loyalty. "The Republican Party functions like the Rotary Club," he said. "This time, it was nobody's turn." George W. Bush decided to take his turn.

The second election comment Novak often heard was that presidential candidates are always alike. He refuted that idea. "Are they just the same?" he asked. "You bet not."

Gore and Bush's wider views of the role of government differ greatly, Novak said. "One vision is of a government guiding our lives. The other vision is of us guiding ourselves."

Novak said that President Bush is "up to it" and will be able to contend with partisan barriers to legislation during his term.

"He has perhaps the smallest vocabulary I've ever seen for a president of the United States," he said. "But those things aren't as important as character and steadfastness."

During his speech, Novak explained the importance of Bush's cabinet appointments and gave his prediction for what will be the biggest issue for the new administration. He said it is not education because of its local nature. Instead, he said, "The most important issue coming up is the tax cut."

Novak saved the third comment he always hears around election time until after a question-and-answer period. Before the floor was opened to questions, Jeff Budney (senior-electrical engineering), Penn State YAF chairman, gave the results of an audience poll.

Budney had created replicas of the disputed Florida butterfly ballots for speechgoers to fill out. People were told to follow specific voting instructions, but 20 of the ballots were still invalid.

George W. Bush won the mock election by a margin of almost 30 votes. Two-thirds of the audience supported an added referendum calling for national standards on voting.

Following this announcement, Novak entertained 30 minutes of questions. Topics included compassionate conservatism, soft money, voter fraud and even CNN's election night coverage.

One person asked what Novak expects from the Democratic Party in the 2004 election. After naming a few politicians who are considering running, he said, "I still believe that the Clintons are the dominant force in the Democratic Party."

As was obvious from the varied mock election votes, attendees to the lecture came from both sides of the political spectrum. "I'm a Republican and I believe in a lot of what Novak says," said Marcia Bellon (junior-life sciences). "I just wanted to come out and see someone I have a lot of respect for."

Others, like Danielle Kraus (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), leaned more Democratic.

"I just like to hear all the sides of the political issues," Kraus said.

Some came due to name recognition and because they enjoy Novak's CNN appearances.

"I like the show Crossfire and what he stands for and his views," said Ryan Byler (freshman-professional golf management).

The speech, which was part of YAF's Voices of Freedom lecture series, ran at the same time as a Distinguished Speaker Series speech by Danny Glover on the opposite side of campus.

Students at Novak's speech wondered if the auditorium would have been full had there not been a conflicting event.

"It's a shame that they're at the same time," Kraus said.

To close his speech, Novak explained the third thing he hears at election time — politicians claiming each election is the most important one yet. Novak said that sentiment applies to those running for office, but that the fate of the nation is in the people's hands.

"The future of the country lies beyond the government," he said. "Let's try to keep it that way."