Candidates Push Students To Show Up

Washington Post: Campaigns Court Students In Iowa, And Hope They'll Actually Turn Out On Caucus Night

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Jose Antonio Vargas and Shailagh Murray.

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For months, Barack Obama has pursued Casey Turner. He has sent the 19-year-old University of Northern Iowa student letters, e-mails, phone calls and Facebook messages.

Turner's friends are pushing him to back the senator from Illinois, too, even getting him to join a Facebook group called "I pledge to caucus for Barack Obama on January 3rd."

Nonetheless, Turner is ambivalent about whether he will make it to the Democratic presidential caucuses next month.

"Some people are talking this election to death, but there's plenty of young people who aren't going to caucus," said Turner, a music major from Clinton, in the eastern part of the state. "It's not a priority right now. It should be. But, really, it's not."

Many of the presidential candidates have actively courted young voters, sending them text messages, visiting college campuses and launching Web sites that explain the complicated caucus process. The goal is not only to win over these voters but, just as critically, to get the ripe but unreliable group to turn up at caucus sites, perhaps hundreds of miles from their homes.

College students are among the most fervent supporters of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.). Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) and former senator John Edwards (D-N.C.) also have significant student followings -- Biden because of his record on Darfur, and Edwards as the anti-establishment populist in the Democratic race. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has sparked enthusiasm among women students drawn to her historic quest.

Among the Democratic and Republican front-runners, only former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R) does not have a specific program to reach out to student voters. Eric Woolson, who is running the campaign's Iowa operation, said, "I don't know if young voters are any different than any other voters."

Huckabee's campaign and the rest are aware, however, that student enthusiasm usually doesn't translate into student votes. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean was a big campus favorite in 2004, but that year, 18-to-24-year-olds amounted to less than 4 percent of Democratic caucusgoers.

The turnout was a huge disappointment to Gordon Fischer, who was chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party in 2004, and it left a scar. When he and his wife, Monica, were considering whether to endorse Obama, Fischer's first question to campaign officials was: "Is this a children's crusade? Are we counting on just young people to vote? If that's the case, I think that's problematic to say the least."

The Fischers' concerns were allayed when a senior campaign aide described students as "icing on the cake." Fischer has since become a key Obama adviser in Iowa.

The question of whether students will caucus has been complicated by the caucus date, Jan. 3, which falls in the middle of most universities' winter break.

"The reality is . . . students will have to either caucus at home or, if they're from Illinois or Minnesota or wherever, have to drive back to campus to caucus," said Tim Hagle, an associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa.

Iowa's public universities have said they will open their dorms to out-of-state students who want to return to caucus. About 21,000 students from other states attend the schools.

Many more Iowa students will be scattered around the state in their home towns, which could blunt their electoral impact. However, veteran caucus watchers suggest that, in certain areas, students could be a potent force.

"My theory is, it could have a massive impact because they could pull themselves and their family members to a candidate," said Steffen Schmidt, a veteran political scientist at Iowa State University. "It could have kind of an interesting positive impact. I call them caucus missionaries." But he added, "We're all guessing because it's never happened."

Schmidt noted that Paul, in particular, has attracted among students "an incomprehensible amount of passion. I've never seen anything like it before. You hear testimonials that are almost religious. Obama also has generated an amazing amount of student involvement. Clinton has the most enthusiasm among young women that I've ever seen."

Brandon Neil, for instance, the 21-year-old founder of UNI Students for Barack Obama, plans to caucus in his home town of Plainfield. He has promised to take his mother, Renee, who has never caucused before. He has given $10 to Obama -- his first political donation -- and persuaded his mom to give $25, a first for her, too.

Since announcing his candidacy in February, Obama has attracted a strong following among college and high school students. He has been the most "friended" Democratic candidate on MySpace and Facebook, sites popular among young voters -- so popular, in fact, that a Facebook group called Students for Barack Obama, created in July 2006 by Meredith Segal, a 21-year-old at Bowdoin College, became an official part of the campaign.

In Iowa, more than 60 colleges and high schools have chapters supporting Obama's candidacy. The one at the University of Northern Iowa is the school's largest candidate group by far, boasting more than 300 students. A core group of 30 has been meeting most Wednesdays to organize events since soon after classes started.

Some of the group's most involved students said they come from Republican families and were coaxed into switching parties by Obama's candidacy.

Lucy Fitzgerald, who wore a red shirt that read "Friends don't let friends vote Republican," said her mother supports Mitt Romney. And this out-of-state student, who grew up in a Minneapolis suburb, said she plans to drive 3 1/2 hours back to Cedar Falls for caucus night.

"I'm 20. As far as I can remember, having grown up in the Bush years, I've been jaded about politics. A lot of my friends feel that way, too," Fitzgerald said. "Now we have Obama, somebody who's saying, 'You can be involved, you can make a difference.'"

[utahdemocrat]

Who does Obama think he is by urging college students in Iowa to caucus in his behalf. Those students are, if old enought to vote, registered voters in their home states and should only be eligible to vote there. He claims he wants to bring change to the people by introducing a new face that is not swayed by the same old political trickery. That is a bunch of ***. Sounds to me like a new face up to the same old treachery. Shame on any one who would fall for his treachery. If you as a voter truly feel he is the right man for the job, I say you should vote for him. If however you are unsure, give a lot of thought to any of the other candidates from both parties and vote for the candidate you truly feel will do the best job. I for one have lost all respect for Obama. He is stabbing the American People in the back.

[samthetvcat]

Geez, I''ve been hearing more about how the 2nd tier 2nd choices are made, and apparently there''s a lot of pressure put on people as a group to give their vote up to whoever their 2nd tier first choice tells them to.

Like if Richardson tells them to go over and support Hillary, they''ll go over as a group rather than disperse and pick their second choice. Because there''s apparently a lot of back room deal-making for cabinet positions. And everybody''s been speculating that Hillary''s already offered Richardson a potential running-mate spot or high-level cabinet position.

Strategically, it might also behoove guys like Biden to support Edwards since Iowa is do or die for Edwards whereas Obama still has New Hampshire.

Shucks . . . I hope Richardson supporters see through this ploy and appreciate that Richardson (and Biden) are just as likely to get a high-level cabinet position with Obama or Edwards and that they don''t need to feel like they have to vote for Hillary to secure a good future for Richardson.

Because Hillary''s already alienated Al-Maliki by calling for his resignation last summer and has probably also alienated Iran by voting to designate their elite fighters ''terrorists'' . . . I actually think Richardson would have greater leverage to succeed if he didn''t have to be doing it under the umbrella of Hillary''s gaffes.

[trillion1]

This isn''t the 60s when students were politically active and knowegable.

[werchange]

RON PAUL CAN WIN THE ELECTION
Ron Paul can win the GOP nomination. If he does, I predict a landslide victory in November of 2008. Even the oddsmakers in Vegas aren''t willing to discount his chances. They''re currently giving him 2:1 odds to win against Hitlery if he gets the nomination. Romney, McCain and the globalist, sell-out Giuliani aren''t given anything better than a 45:1 chance of winning if they get the GOP nod. All it takes is for formerly apathetic individuals to get off the couch and nominate him in their local Republican primary or caucus process. Political parties are nothing more than tools. Those who read the manual and use the tools properly will win the nomination for their candidate. For the past 20 years, many good people have stayed at home and accepted whatever candidate they let others select for them. This year, those people are learning how to use their vote to make a difference. In order to do so, you must participate in the Republican primary election or caucus process in your county, precinct or district. Nothing else matters. If we do this, we win. If not, we lose. The GOP has been suffering from declining participation for decades. Fewer than 10% of registered voters have ALL the power because they actually participate. Now the remaining 90% must surge to use their vote as a tool to bring about positive and long overdue political change in this country. The time to act is now. The time for political revolution has come. The time for Ron Paul is NOW!

[samthetvcat]

Actually, I take back what I said earlier about students probably flaking - they''re basically still dependants who are insulated from the ''real world'', but I haven''t looked into the kind of logistics the campaigns have put into place to get them to go to the caucus.

For instance, apparently Hillary''s matched up every newbie female senior caucus goer in Iowa with repeat female senior caucus goer to provide transportation and keep tabs on their commitment.

If Barack''s scheduled bus transportation, pre-caucus ''tailgate'' parties/pep rallies and post-caucus Orange-bowl/results socials/''keggers'' at local bars, turnout could be really high. Like unlimited hoagies might be all that''s needed to ensure high turnout . . .

I could see it going either way . . .

[samthetvcat]

Anyway, as for the college vote - yeah, I think the vast majority of them are probably going to be watching the Orange Bowl Jan 3 because campuses are so insular.

The vote''ll maybe come down to the 2nd tier candidates'' supporters'' second choices since they have to revote if their first choice doesn''t garner 15% of the vote, is that the way it works?

[samthetvcat]

"Obama talks a lot about "Change".... But what policy has he proposed will "change" Wachington?? So far, I haven''''t heard anything except for the word "change"... No wonder so many young Voters are fooled by him.... and I am honestly shocked that the Press has not grill him on that, given the Press is so eager to judge a Woman Candidate by her appearance."
Posted by metroduck75

You keep posting the same message, and everybody keeps telling you he has a history of instituting ethics reform as both a State and US Senator.

And if Hillary''s so tough about handling the ''attack machine'' then surely she can handle unflattering photos (?)

[element51]

DemWatcher....I''m glad that you had a lovely Christmas. It goes without saying that your leader is as pure as the driven snow. It does my heart good to have someone with his moral values and concern for us poor working stiffs in the big house. Oops, I shouldn''t say big house. He sure doesn''t belong there. Make that , position of leadership. His management of the economy has been stellar, don''t you just love his health care program and bringing democracy to Iraq has been a stunning success. In fact, we should ammend that "just a piece of paper, the constitution so he can be president for life. Would that make you happy? While we''re at it lets make the democratic party illegal and get rid of them for good. Maybe you should consider applying for a job at the white house. Word is that Mr. Cheney is looking for a few good men.

[hillary4sout]

GO HILLARY IT''S YOUR TIME AMERICA KNOWS IT WE ALL DOWN SOUTH KNOW IT SO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE GO FIGHT WIN "SHAKE THEM HATERS OFF," HILLARY THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR AMERICA HILLARY 08 THE BEST AN MOST ELECTABLE IN 08 GET BEHIND A WINNER SHE CAN WIN HER STATE AN THE GENERAL ELECTION UNLIKE OBAMA HE IS NOT EVEN WINNING IN HIS HOME STATE DO WE REALLY WANT ANOTHER GORE BETTER HOPE HE CAN EVEN GET HIS SEAT BACK AFTER THIS ELECTION IS OVER GO AN SEE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT HIM IN HIS HOME STATE IF YOU DARE IF YOUR PEPOLE IN YOUR HOME TOWN GOT NO LOVE FOR YOU WHY SHOULD WE IN THE REST OF THE USA HILLARY ALL THE WAY TO VICTORY!!!!!!!HILLARY 08 NEW POLL HILLARY UP 18 POINTS GOD BLESS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE USA HILLARY 08 FOR TRUE CHANGE DAY ONE.....

[perception5]

Mitt Romney will win the GOP nomination and go on to be the 45th President of the USA

Mitt is the class of the field with more cross-functional experience than all the other candidates combined.

America is the largest enterprise in the world and folks know that Mitt is the only one qualified to run that enterprise.

Well rounded and solid America needs leadership that going to "fix" the domestic issues that we have as a nation.

That''''s why I''''m voting for Mitt!........GO MITT!

[colonieny]

Kids in college have been fed propaganda via lefty college prof.

They must tow the line to get grades even if they are not yet crazy lefties.

What is the point of this article ?

[motherhen11]

***! Forgot what I was going to say! Oh well.

[brianbwb-2009]

Oh dear, the "XXXprophet" spammer is back, trying to sell a John Bircher as a John F. Kennedy.

Paul should go back to being an OB/GYN, so he can "look up" his old girlfriends.

No more Republicans, ever.

[brianbwb-2009]

No more Republicans, ever. Enough innocent people have died or suffered for their financial gain.

[morrow282]

hmm...as apathetic as people my age are, it''s a wonder candidates try to sway us at all.

[ontheleft]

only former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R) does not have a specific program to reach out to student voters. Eric Woolson, who is running the campaign''s Iowa operation, said, "I don''t know if young voters are any different than any other voters."

Mr. Woolson needs to be fired for incompetence. Oh wait, he''s a Republican. That''s understandable then.