Barack Obama and John McCain may get the headlines, but the Demosthenian Literary Society gave third party candidates their time in the spotlight Monday.

The Society held a debate between representatives from the Constitution, Libertarian, Green and Socialist Workers parties.

“Typically third parties are more of issue-focused groups trying to raise awareness rather than focusing on winning,” said Steven Etheridge, a junior from Conyers and member of the Demosthenian Society. “I think they’re definitely successful in increasing awareness. They don’t view their campaigning as seeking votes so much as spreading the party message.”

Ryan Giles, a sophomore from Kennesaw and a registered independent, said he is sick of the major parties.

“Third party candidates aren’t going to get elected,” he said. “It’s a long shot, but third parties do influence politics in subtle ways.”

The debate covered energy independence, economic policy and social reform.

Ricardo Davis, a representative for the Constitution Party, said his party is attempting to return the United States to “the original American view of law and government.”

Davis said his party believes “our rights are endowed to us by our creator, harking back to the Declaration of Independence. We’re trying to restore the American Republic … to enjoy the fruits of our own labor.”

Marshall McCart, a Libertarian party representative, said his party agrees with Davis on economics but differs on social issues.

“We are the party of liberty,” McCart said. “We believe in things like abortion rights, gay marriage and legalization of medicinal marijuana on the social side of things, as well as lowering taxes and less government regulation of the economy.”

The Socialist Workers party said America needs “revolutionary change.”

“Workers and farmers need to take power from the rich,” said Jeanne FitzMaurice said for the party. FitzMaurice called for nationalization of banks and large businesses.

Samiron Dutta, state coordinator for Ralph Nader’s campaign, represented Nader and the Green party with similar platforms.

“We’re all about shifting the power. We need to make government work for us, not for big business.”