By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With election day quickly approaching, candidates are scrambling to find ways to get their messages out and to become familiar to voters. One of the primary ways this is done is through forums or debates, and forums will be held throughout the River Parishes between now and election day.

As such, last week L’Observateur asked visitors to its website how they felt about political forums.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise in an era when Congress’ approval rating is nearly in the single digits, but most poll respondents feel the words of those on the campaign trail hold very little weight in reality. More than two-thirds of respondents said political candidates will say anything to get elected, so such forums have little use.

Of the other one-third, nearly half feel the forums are a useful way to get to know candidates but did not plan to attend any locally. About half that number said they planned to attend one or more of the forums.

Finally, one out of every 10 poll respondents fell somewhere in the middle, liking the chance to get to know candidates through the forum but tempering their belief in the candidates’ promises.

A full breakdown of results follows:

• 8 percent of respondents chose “I think they are great and plan to attend one in my parish.”

• 15 percent of respondents chose “I think they are useful ways to get to know the candidates but will not be attending.”

• 10 percent of respondents chose “I think they are helpful in getting to know the candidates, but the candidates’ answers must sometimes be taken with a grain of salt.”

• 67 percent of respondents chose “I think they are useless as a candidate will say anything to get elected.”