By ANDREW GOUDSWARD
Staff Writer

WALL – Senior Matt Goldman, portraying President Barack Obama for the CHS Mock Election, began the first press conference of the Mock Election season this afternoon by shaking the hands of everyone in the crowd. Standing on the soapbox in the front hallway he fielded questions primarily about the economy and tax policy for the last half hour of lunch.

As music blared in the background, Vice President Joe Biden, also known by his peers as senior Brian Principe, introduced the president to the crowd of supporters, onlookers, reporters, and opponents who had assembled to see what the first press conference entailed.

President Obama started off by proclaiming that he had achieved his goals from the previous campaign. “In 2008, I ran on a platform of hope and change,” Obama began “I’d like to report, that we have succeeded in changing America.”

Obama continued by arguing that his policies have helped reduce the nation’s jobless rate. He produced a chart displaying the decreasing unemployment rate over the last several months and vowed that the trend will continue in his second term.

Additionally, Obama repeated his pro same-sex marriage stance and also argued that women should have the right to contraceptives, a key provision of his health care law. “I believe that is a right that all women have,” he said.

However, much of the president’s time was spend on tax policy, where he attempted to discredit his opponent’s support of lower taxes for the upper class. “It has been proven in the past that it doesn’t work,” he said, “Wealth does not trickle down.”

Senior Taylor Walters, who represents Governor Mitt Romney for the elections, challenged Obama at the press conference on the persistently high unemployment rate.

While Obama acknowledged the initial increase, he blamed the policies of the previous administration for the number of large job losses early in his term.

Obama took the blame for his short comings as president, admitting that his deficit reduction policies “haven’t been as successful as intended.”

Overall he did emphasize the improvements made during his term. “I believe we are in a better state now than 4 years ago,” he said.

Reactions to the press conference were mixed. Undecided voter Michelle Ziobro of Keyport was impressed that the president admitted his faults and said that “he seemed very well informed.” However, she said that the logistics of the event were poor.

The democratic press conference rallied bystanders nearby to watch. Ziobro though, said she still remains undecided.

“I might vote for him, but first I have to see what Romney’s side brings to the table and I’m sure it’s gonna be good,” she said.