Daily Skiff

Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Michael Bou-Nacklie Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter speaks in the Student Center Lounge.

A presidential hopeful spoke to the campus community about border security Wednesday despite a lack of confidence from his campaign.

Roy Tyler, campaign director of communication for Duncan Hunter, said the chances of Hunter winning the candidacy were about as good "as pushing a string through a maze."

Students and interested locals gathered in the Brown-Lupton Student Center lounge to hear Hunter, R-Calif., campaign for the 2008 presidency.

Hunter's speech had a slow start after his flight was diverted to Dallas Love Field due to weather problems, causing his arrival to be delayed by 20 minutes.

He wasted little time getting to the issues he considered important to his campaign including outsourcing, trade with China and illegal immigration.

Hunter said he believes America is losing part of its great industrial base due to outsourcing work to foreign countries.

"We are letting China cheat on trade," said Hunter, expressing concern about trade between America and China.

Hunter said China is downgrading its money by 40 percent in an effort to decrease the cost of its goods.

"As president of the United States I will stop China from cheating on trade," Hunter said. "And, if they devalue their currency to the point they are unfairly undercutting America's products in our markets and around the world, then we will put countervailing duties on their products."

Trade with China would continue under this system but it would be a fair two-way trade, Hunter said.

Hunter, who wrote the Secure Fence Act which aims to extend the border fence 1854 miles across states bordering Mexico, also discussed illegal immigration.

He said he believes his fencing will not only help curb illegal immigration but will also save lives.

"About 130 people have died, folks who came across illegally, have died in the Arizona desert," Hunter said. "If we have that fence across the Arizona border we're going to save a lot of lives."

Hunter guaranteed, if elected president, the completion of the 854 miles of border fence within six months.

He acknowledged illegal border crossing or smuggling is something that can never by completely stopped but said he believes it will be enough of an inconvenience to slow border traffic.

Hunter said he felt students need to become politically active and get involved in campaigns that reflect their values.

"Being active in politics - I think - is an action we all owe the country," Hunter said.

Freshman business premajor Nick Boerner and senior political science major Melanie Harris said Hunter did a good job getting his viewpoints across, but both still felt he stood little chance to represent the Republican Party.

Despite the tough road ahead, Tyler said, the campaign would continue and hopefully start gaining speed.

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