How's school going? What's your major?
My major is finance, minor in political science. It's going really well, I guess.

After you graduate, do you have any plans?
I'll be pursuing a rotational program with the company I'm interning with now, Lincoln Financial, once I graduate.  I would start in August [2008], work in different business units throughout the company, one year each. As for a specific field, it's really too early in the process to know exactly where I'm looking.

Have you heard of the term "helicopter parents"? Do you think your parents qualify as that?
It's not really a term that I've heard said or used especially among my generation, but I do know what that implies. Actually, during [my parents'] interview with Judy [Woodruff of Generation Next], that was the first time they had heard the term as well. I think that my parents are there, they're supportive, they are encouraging, but in the end, it really is my call as an adult ... and I think that’s how it should be handled.

How closely have you been paying attention to the presidential campaign?
Pretty close, not too much specific campaigns or the nitty-grittys, but I have been following what the candidates have been saying,  although haven't been able to catch any full debates. You have 13 candidates, so to really dive into everybody is kind of pointless, because the vast majority of them will be kicked out by next year.

Have you picked which candidate you are supporting? Why him?
I am in favor of [former Massachusetts Republican Gov.] Mitt Romney. I feel like he's qualified on all the issues, he's one of the only candidates including Republicans who is able to fix the issues and present real solutions rather than running a campaign that is divisive and picking on other people.

Is there a Republican candidate who would frighten you if he were the candidate?
Either [former New York GOP Mayor Rudy] Giuliani or [Arizona Republican Sen. John] McCain, to be honest. Both of them have terrible records going back and forth on numerous amounts of issues, I think that upon examination and research, they are the candidates who fall apart because they have been inconsistent. They are not strong enough, not even on conservative values, to handle ... well ... [New York Democratic Sen.] Hillary Clinton.

Do you have any political beliefs that would surprise people who watched the documentary?
Probably my stance against homosexuality and their right to marry is the thing that I would think would surprise people. People know that people think the way I do, but I think hearing it would startle people because in this age of, you know, tolerance, [my view] is not really looked upon favorably.

Your generation is largely liberal and is supportive of many parts of the Democratic platform. What message would you pass on to your peers to try and convince them to consider a Republican candidate?
Well, first of all, in my experience, I would disagree. I feel like most college students are conservative, it's just that the vocal ones and the loudest are liberal.

To address liberal people of my generation, I would simply ask them to really research and really look into the facts, look to the nonpartisan groups, especially when it comes to economics and the war. If you can set aside your preconceived ideology, and I think you'll come to some startling conclusions.

Jon Reimer's blog: http://lfodh.blogspot.com