With the first of the 2008 presidential primary elections less than a year away, the Penn State Political Science Association (PSA) is already hard at work predicting the outcome: Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama?

Last night, the group debated the political nomination at its weekly meeting, calling into question the recent fervor over the two candidates.

"I don't think either of them will win," George Letavish (junior-history) said. "It will get ugly and someone will swoop in and take it."

Clinton and Obama both visited Selma, Ala. Sunday, symbolically marching across a bridge where black protestors were beaten by police officers in 1965.

Both are running for the Democratic Party's nomination.

The PSA, however, remains skeptical that either candidate will make it past the primaries to run as the Democratic nominee.

"I'm actually sick of both of them," Letavish said. "I'm begging for someone to come in and they can just go back to the Senate."

Aaron Cohen (junior-political science and sociology) agreed and said he hoped that "neither of them wins."

"It lessens the chance of [the Democrats] winning the election," Cohen said of the upcoming election.

He discounted the popular notion that Obama will garner votes from minorities because he is black and said he wondered why that was a "legitimate view."

Cohen added that he didn't believe Americans would elect a minority president in the 2008 election.

"I don't think America is ready, whether he's African-American or African," he said. "Even the black community is divided."

Obama's campaign has not made much mention of his role as a practicing Muslim, the PSA said.

Juliette Magoun (sophomore-political science and business) said Obama's religion may become a bigger issue as the presidential race progresses.

"His ties with his religion -- even his own party is telling him to shut up about it," Magoun said. "He grew up going to a Muslim school ... I think they're trying to cover it up."

The club concluded that "all" of the Republicans "hate" Clinton, along with "half" of the Democrats.

"So she's not going to win," Tulchinsky said.

Tulchinsky then asked the club if Al Gore stood a chance of winning.

"No," they answered resoundingly.