Two women debated for the presidential seat in front of a packed house at a mock debate hosted by Harvard University Wednesday night.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, representing presidential candidate John McCain and Harvard University lecturer Stephanie Robinson, representing Barack Obama, debated the respective candidates’ education policies at Harvard University.

Approximately 200 people attended Education Policy Forum, which was cosponsored by the Education Professional Interest Council and the Harvard Business School Education Leadership Group.

The forum, which was open to the general public, occupied the Kennedy School of Government’s Bell Hall. Attendees lined the walls and floor of the auditorium, which reached capacity and closed off well before the event began.

Swift and Robinson emphasized the importance of education for future generations and for a successful nation.

‘Education is the civil rights issue of our time,’ Robinson said. ‘Obama and Biden will ensure that all children are prepared and ready with the skills necessary to compete in our global economy.’

‘ ‘McCain believes that improving and achieving excellence in the education system is a long-term solution to all other issues,’ Swift said.

Both representatives also spoke about early childhood education, charter, choice and quality of teaching.

‘Obama wants to assure that every American has access to college, that it is affordable, and that they succeed once they get there,’ Robinson said. ‘Education isn’t merely about book smarts, we are talking about the education of the whole person, the whole character.’

Obama’s higher education policy includes a plan to make college more affordable for all students by overhauling the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would ensure the first $4,000 of tuition for most Americans in return for 100 hours of community service, according to his official website.’ His plan also includes simplifying the financial aid application process by integrating it within general tax forms.

McCain also supports simplified financial aid applications and improved student lending programs, as well as higher education tax benefits and information for parents, according to his official website.

Though Swift and Robinson agreed that education policies need to be revamped, the representatives disagreed on the means of funding the candidates’ proposed plans.

‘Obama wants to make sure we are taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves,’ Robinson said. ‘There isn’t enough money in education.’

‘The problem is lack of consistency and quality, not money in education,’ Swift said.

Boston University School of Management junior Peter Ghafari said he considered education an important issue in the presidential election.

‘Education leads to increased efficiency, which will ultimately help better our struggling economy,’ he said.

Harvard student Sara Donatelli said she did not learn as much about the candidates as she had hoped.

‘It’s still a bit vague overall,’ she said. ‘Swift spoke more about herself than McCain.’