THE PENDULUM ^Volume 32, Issue 4 September 14, 2006 Elon University's Weekly Student Publication WWW. elon. edu/pendulum Cook predicts Democrats Misdirection among reasons for shift in political majority ikys. FEATURES p. 15 Eton student can cer sun/Ivors share stories. entertainment p. 19 A/fovfes use two different styles to commemorate Sept 11. Parker McAllister Reporter Dr. Charlie Cook, a non-partisan politi cal reporting guru, visited Elon on Sept. 7 and delivered a presentation with his predic tions for the upcoming midterm election, as well as for the 2008 elections. Cook believes the Democrats will win the midterm elections, and he delivered four reasons why. Cook said the 2006 midterm elections are usually fairly predictable. “When sizing up an upcoming election, people usually look at voting patterns - who’s got the incumbency, the better cam paign, the better candidate and the most money,” he said. “However, one out of every five elections is out of the usual.” “This election is that one out the five, which means that the laws of political grav ity are suspended.” Students found Cook’s views toward the upcoming elections stimulating, and many admitted they had not previously thought of Cook’s theory. “It is interesting to see that in a ‘wave’ election, as Cook described this cycle, that there is no real predicting results because well funded, well qualified and good candi dates are more apt to lose to the inferior candidate,” senior Garrett Kachellek said. “But, I believe that this could also be See COOK p. 2 s., .'/.J .'i SPORTS p. 21 Men’s soccer ranks 25th in the nation.