As Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Galen Foulke and Vice President Luke Adams run the first official reelection campaign in Penn State history, the other presidential candidates say they are not intimidated.

"It's a matter of finishing what we started," Foulke said. "And USG can benefit from continuity. It is impossible to be ready for this position, but now people know who we are and who to come to in USG."

The other presidential tickets said Foulke and Adams' previous experience will play into the campaign but should not decide the election.

"We will have to work harder to get ourselves recognized," said vice presidential candidate Kyle Aucker, running mate of Mahmoud Ablan. "We have to show that we also have experience."

USG presidential candidate Robert Dinkelspiel said that with an incumbent running for reelection, favoritism is a concern, especially because the elections system is set up mostly by the incumbents.

As USG president, it is Foulke's job to appoint the election commissioner; then he or she must be passed and approved by the Senate.

This year's election commissioner, Diana Maxham, was appointed in January.

Presidential Candidate Scott Sherbine said controversial events of the past year, like Foulke's impeachment, might work against Foulke and Adams.

"I think if we make students aware of how things have been run and how I am going to run things, they may be willing to listen," Sherbine said. "Hopefully, people will begin to realize that government can be much more beneficial to the students."

Michael Peters, USG presidential candidate, said that although he agrees incumbents have an advantage, an incumbent ticket also has to deal with accountability for its first term.

Elections Special Counsel Shawn Gordon said that, regardless of their previous experience, candidates are on a level playing field.

"The elections code does not give any candidate an advantage," Gordon said. "From the perspective of the law, it is as if they were running for their first term."

This is first time USG presidential candidates have run an official reelection campaign.

In 1988, USG president Todd Sloan campaigned for reelection as a write-in candidate but lost by 1,420 votes.

USG presidential candidate Mark Taticchi said the best strategy is to focus on his own campaign, not that of the competition.

Adams said their experience could be a "double-edged sword."

"[People on our campaign] think it is going to be easy, and it's not," he said. "There is a fine line between cocky and confident."

Aucker said a fair election would depend on student energy and involvement. "Research the candidates -- what they did, what they believe and what they want for Penn State," Aucker said.