By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

It took the better part of a month for Blake Witten and Kasey Ng to research their roles as Barack Obama and John McCain, respectively.

The sophomores at Commerce High School put that research, as well as some hair dye, to good use on Wednesday, during a mock debate before their entire student body.

Sporting a suit and tie, and a liberal coating of gray hairspray, Ng also employed some of McCain’s common phrases such as “My good friends” as he answered questions about Iraq, the economy and abortion.

“Everyone gets to know the candidates a lot better,” said Ng, 16. “It’s going to help me to know how to do a little bit more research before I vote.”

Both boys and their running mates — Whitney Showen, who portrayed vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, and Kamesha Cook, who took the role of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — are students in Danesa Napier’s history class at the school.

Napier said she split her two sophomore classes into each campaign, regardless of their political beliefs.

“Regardless of their personal opinions,” she said, “they had to be on-board for their campaign.”

As a history teacher, Napier said she was excited for the opportunity to teach her students about a historical event as it was happening.

“You want to get your students involved, and the best way is just to get them in there, get them to do the research, and have fun with it,” she said.

After a month researching Obama, Witten said if he were old enough to vote, he’d probably support John McCain.

“I’d probably vote for McCain,” he said. “I like some of the things McCain does and Obama doesn’t support.”

Missouri

A Joplin High School social sciences teacher said his classes will get a hands-on learning experience by doing exit polling of voters next Tuesday.