They fought for over an hour, but a winner was not declared.

Four debaters battled over the United States' next president at the "Political Punch Out" held last night at the Pollock Commons Recreation Room.

"Our main objective was to get people to vote," Jason Becker (junior-information sciences and technology) said.

Becker, who organized the event along with Nomi Deutch (senior-political science) and John Gentile (junior-marketing), said the night was very successful. Gentile served as the debate's moderator.

"If you don't vote, you don't have an opinion," Rob Arcamona, the debater for the College Democrats, said.

Darryl Watson, who represented The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrants Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) in the debate and supported Sen. John Kerry, said it is necessary for students to make a decision for president.

"I was undecided, but now I'm more reluctant to vote," Tony Orenga (freshman-information sciences and technology) said. "I felt dumber after being here."

Orenga said the only way both sides would be able to sway voters would be through good showmanship and not through factual arguments.

"There was no substance," Bobby Parchuri (freshman-physics) said.

Orenga said the debaters who supported President George W. Bush for re-election did not seem confident and also seemed less intelligent than the debaters who supported Kerry.

"The Democrats argued stronger," Sarah Cochran (sophomore-communication arts and sciences) said. "The Republicans should be more understanding of both sides; they should try to be honest about the facts."

Cochran said she was a Republican and added the debaters supporting Bush showed the stubbornness that is associated with conservatives. The organizers of the "Political Punch Out" used a boxing theme and even had the mediator dressed as a referee.

Questions were aimed at one debater and then were open to be discussed by all debaters.

After eight rounds of questions, the audience was allowed to direct questions to specific debaters.

"I was personally disappointed in the audience," Deutch said. "There were no conservatives."

Nick Klein, who debated for the Young Americans for Freedom and supported Bush, said he was disappointed at the immaturity and disrespectful nature of the crowd.

Andy Banducci, College Republicans chairman, questioned Watson's calling Iraqi insurgents "freedom fighters."

"Darryl was not unpatriotic," Todd Taylor, who debated for the College Republicans, said. "Now Michael Moore, I do consider him unpatriotic."