As Kids Go, So Goes the Nation

Representatives from the presidential campaigns were ready when the reporters started lobbing tough questions.

"How would you improve the military?" asked one eighth-grader playing a reporter in a mock debate last month at Fairfax County's Glasgow Middle School.

"We would have to make sure it was strong," said Meghan Lynn, 14, channeling the McCain campaign. "In Iraq, if we are trying to make peace, we have to make sure the country is stable enough to do that."

The Obama team had a different take. Nadia Rentia, 13, popped out of her seat.

"I want to address this," she said. "Barack Obama believes it is high time the war in Iraq be halted. We are invading a country that has almost nothing to do with 9/11, all while Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda are training terrorists."

But McCain's people wanted to make sure that they made their point.

"The thing about Iraq is we have to stay in there until it is stable," added Matthew Harrell, 13. "If we leave, it will just go back, and everything we fought for will be a waste."

The students, who represented McCain and Obama as well as third-party candidates Ralph Nader and Bob Barr, also sparred over energy and the financial crisis.

Nadia said she'd vote for Obama if she were old enough because she's opposed to the war in Iraq. "And he believes in tax cuts for the lower class and not the other class," she said.

Matthew would vote for McCain tomorrow if he could.

"I think he's more experienced, and I like his take on energy and the economy."

Forget McCain and Obama. In one kindergarten class, it was Smiley Face vs. Scary Face.