Not all high school competitions play out on the athletic field. Silverado, Basic, Green Valley, Coronado, and Del Sol students are pitting their teams of student canvassers against each other in a three-week-long contest to see which school can knock on more doors for Barack Obama's campaign. Today an organizational meeting with representatives from each school was followed by a neighborhood canvass.
The whole thing started with the campaign's school outreach program. After an organizer gave a talk at Silverado's Democratic Club, Michelle, 17, decided it was time to take action. The next weekend she stopped by the Southeast Las Vegas field office and met with some of the staff. "We came up with the idea and ran with it," she said. They first thought of doing a canvass competition between football rivals Silverado and Green Valley. But after a teacher from Basic had a campaign representative speak at her class, over 20 of her students ended up joining the competition.
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Monday, October 6th is the deadline to register in 17 states.
No matter where you live, if you have three minutes to spare, you can check your registration status, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and find your early voting site or polling location at VoteForChange.com.
In 2004, George Bush won Nevada by less than 2.5% of voters, New Mexico by less than 1% of voters, and Colorado by less than 100,000 votes. In Ohio, Bush won by just over 100,000 votes -- less than 10 votes per precinct.
This time, we can't leave anything to chance.
This is your choice: three minutes spent registering to vote -- or four years spent wishing that you had.
Even if you are registered, you likely know someone who isn't.
If you have friends or family who support Barack but might not be registered to vote, you can use our online form to let them know about VoteForChange.com. A simple message from you could be the difference between them voting and them staying at home on November 4th.
And that could be the difference in this election.
It's always tough to tell what will motivate students. Free pizza is always a good start, and free t-shirts are even better. But every once in a while, students get motivated by a cause or a speaker who connects with them.
Students at the University of Virginia were recently pumped up by a visit from Michelle Obama. Their chapter president was inspired to write up what the UVA chapter has been doing, and the general feeling around the campaign in Charlottesville. Every student should read this and take notes -- this is how we're going to elect Barack Obama on November 4th.
Conference calls, high profile speakers, hours of data entry, piles of voter registration forms, difficult media, and a bustling office are all parts of the robust presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama in the critical swing state of Virginia. They are also integral parts of the lives of students who are running the Obama campaign at the University of Virginia out of the campaign office just steps away from campus. The Obama campaign not only believes in the ability of young voters to change the outcome of this election by voting, they are also entrusting those same young voters to make sure their peers are registered and vote on election day. There is certainly oversight from staffers who work for the campaign, but for the most part the election at the University of Virginia is being run for students by students. The office which opened in early September is nearly exclusively staffed by student volunteers who do the nuts and bolts work of a campaign from getting people absentee ballot forms to spinning the school newspaper to write a positive article about the campaign. A dedicated core group of students spends much of their free time working from the office while also empowering hundreds of their fellow students to register their friends, neighbors, and classmates. Most of theses students are still attending school and have to balance long nights working at the office with early classes in the morning. As President of Hoos for Obama (Hoos is the unofficial mascot of the University of Virginia), I am proud of all the work that we are all doing at the Obama office. We have been able to set up a Dorm Captain program in which we have students in nearly every dorm and apartment registering students to vote. We have a similar program in classrooms along with Sororities and Fraternities. To date we have registered more than 1500 students to vote, but there is still much work to be done. What the Obama campaign has done with students at the University of Virginia is indicative of what they are doing across the nation. This campaign is not only about winning an election or electing a candidate, it is empowering ordinary Americans to get involved in their own political process. Many campaigns in the past have paid lip service to getting young people involved in presidential politics, but have failed to make a legitimate effort. However, the Obama office at the University of Virginia shows the dedication of both students and the campaign make this year different. Regardless if young people actually make the difference on November 4, this election will be looked back upon as a defining moment in American history in which young people finally got involved in their democracy.
Conference calls, high profile speakers, hours of data entry, piles of voter registration forms, difficult media, and a bustling office are all parts of the robust presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama in the critical swing state of Virginia. They are also integral parts of the lives of students who are running the Obama campaign at the University of Virginia out of the campaign office just steps away from campus.
The Obama campaign not only believes in the ability of young voters to change the outcome of this election by voting, they are also entrusting those same young voters to make sure their peers are registered and vote on election day. There is certainly oversight from staffers who work for the campaign, but for the most part the election at the University of Virginia is being run for students by students.
The office which opened in early September is nearly exclusively staffed by student volunteers who do the nuts and bolts work of a campaign from getting people absentee ballot forms to spinning the school newspaper to write a positive article about the campaign. A dedicated core group of students spends much of their free time working from the office while also empowering hundreds of their fellow students to register their friends, neighbors, and classmates. Most of theses students are still attending school and have to balance long nights working at the office with early classes in the morning.
As President of Hoos for Obama (Hoos is the unofficial mascot of the University of Virginia), I am proud of all the work that we are all doing at the Obama office. We have been able to set up a Dorm Captain program in which we have students in nearly every dorm and apartment registering students to vote. We have a similar program in classrooms along with Sororities and Fraternities. To date we have registered more than 1500 students to vote, but there is still much work to be done.
What the Obama campaign has done with students at the University of Virginia is indicative of what they are doing across the nation. This campaign is not only about winning an election or electing a candidate, it is empowering ordinary Americans to get involved in their own political process.
Many campaigns in the past have paid lip service to getting young people involved in presidential politics, but have failed to make a legitimate effort. However, the Obama office at the University of Virginia shows the dedication of both students and the campaign make this year different. Regardless if young people actually make the difference on November 4, this election will be looked back upon as a defining moment in American history in which young people finally got involved in their democracy.
The deadline to register to vote in Virginia is October 6th. With the help of hard-working chapters like UVA, we'll be able to turn Virginia blue -- so join Virginia for Obama today!
Over the course of two days and across seven colleges and one campaign sponsored high school night, Adam Brody and Joy Bryant spread the word to Wisconsin students about the importance of voting in this years election and why they support Barack Obama. Brody, best known for his role as Seth Cohen on "The O.C.", and Bryant, an actress and model who has been seen in Blockbusters Spiderman - 2 and Bobby, both felt an urgency to get involved with this particular campaign and lend their support to the grassroots movement for change that inspired them.
Speaking in front of hundreds of college students at each location through the tour Bryant shared how she was:
"moved by Barack's choice to pass up jobs that could have made him very wealthy in order to go to the south side of Chicago and organize communities that were suffering. He made a sacrifice and has shown judgment that I would want in my President."
Brody, who initally was a leaning towards Hillary Clinton but was content to let Barack and her "fight it out in the primaries", was convinced that Barack was the right choice when he watched his convention speech. Spending convention week watching the coverage proved to Brody that Barack was a good choice and:
"the change we need...clearly Barack is smart and we have seen what picking the less intelligent guy has gotten us the last eight years so maybe it's time we pick the candidate who is more intelligent to lead. I mean I look at it as who would you want performing surgery on your children...I think it's clear you want the smarter guy."
From Milwaukee to De Pere to Appleton on the first day and Oshkosh to Stevens Point and ending in Madison on the second day, Brody and Bryant were met with large crowds and enthusiastic young voters. Claire in Appleton stated:
"I came out to see what these celebrities thought. I mean, I am registered to vote but I have been undecided and it was interesting to hear what they thought. The fact that they would take time away from their lives to come here is pretty amazing. It shows that they care."
After starting the first day at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Brody and Bryant made their way to Marquette University where after speaking about "the importance of getting it right this time", they posed for pictures with the students and even sat down with the school television station for interviews. In De Pere at a local coffee shop, Cafe Luna, they were met by a crowd from local St. Norbert College that was so large the traveling crew of campaign staffers and volunteers who hosted the event had to wait outside as Brody and Bryant fielded qustions to a packed house.
"I am here because I support Barack Obama but it's amazing to have them(Adam and Joy) coming to De Pere...I just turned 18 and can't wait to vote, I'm not volunteering but maybe I will...this election is important"
These the words of Stacey in De Pere. This bolstered the decision by Brody and Bryant to hit the road for Barack. As Adam stated during each rally,
"I wish I didn't have to do this. I wish it was easier and people would see it...but I do have to do it and I choose to do it because this election is too important and our country's future is at stake."
However, the fact that they have chosen to do this shows the extension into every corner of this country the grassroots movement for change has had. People from all walks of life have been moved to stand up for change and take action towards making it happen. It is the taking action that builds momentum in every community and Barack has said "this election has never been about me, it's been about you." It's up to us and young Americans are rising to the challenge.
Join Students for Barack Obama here.
With only 33 days left, it's more important than ever to call your friends and family to make sure they are registered and voting for Barack. We are excited to announce another way to help you organize your personal contacts and ask them to "get out and vote."
Today, we are launching an official iPhone Application, a free download for iPhone and iPod Touch users. This tool is designed to help you become more directly involved in our campaign to change our country.
The application has a "Call Your Friends" tool that helps you organize your contacts by key battleground states -- a feature we're hoping will generate thousands of additional personal contacts. You can also easily mark reminder notes to yourself on which friends you have called, who they are supporting and who wants a reminder call on Election Day. The information does not leave your phone (so your friends' and your own privacy are protected) but the total amount of calls the application makes are tallied, so you can keep track of your progress as we close in on November 4th.
The Obama 08 application also includes a tool to make it easy to find your local campaign office. Using your phone's current location, you can easily find a field office anywhere in the country (and even find directions to it using the mapping function).
Other features of the application include up to date news from the campaign, video, photos, and all of the issue information needed to use as talking points with your friends when convincing them to register and vote!
Please tell your iPhone users (and iPod Touch users) to download this app today. You can download the application here.
And all mobile users you can get news, updates, videos and more on your phone by texting SITE to 62262 to view our mobile WAP page.
From left to right: Marques from Milwaukee; Joe from St. Paul, MN; Vanessa from Milwaukee; and Sean from Madison. Far Right: DeAndre from Milwaukee
The Minnestoa Spokesman-Recorder sat down with Dominick Washington, the Obama campaign's Minnesota Political Director, to talk about the importance of young people to our grassroots movement for change:
The Barack Obama presidential campaign is setting records in promoting grassroots participation and involvement in the political process. The early caucus and primary attendances were formidable throughout the country. Some polling places reported having run out of ballots and turning people away. It has even given rise to discussion regarding the extension of voting time on a national scale. It can hardly be denied that much of the voting increase was attributable to the abundance of young and other first-time voters stimulated by the Barack Obama campaign.Obama’s overnight rise to popularity and appeal among the young has not been seen in American politics since the early sixties when “Clean Gene” McCarthy and his young college followers successfully forced Lyndon Johnson to abandon seeking a second term in the White House. The difference in those incidents and now is that McCarthy’s rise was primarily an East Coast phenomenon, whereas the Obama surge has targeted all 50 states. It has not just singled out certain “battleground” states or large metropolitan areas. Minnesota is a good example. It has only 10 electoral votes to offer, yet the Obama people have seen fit to place 13 offices in the state, each equipped with a well-oiled cadre of operational staff. The offices are located strategically throughout the state. These offices serve as gathering points for recruiting volunteers who fan out to spread the word of the Obama renaissance. According to Dominick Washington, political director of Obama’s Minnesota campaign, there are at present some 10,000 active Obama campaign volunteers in the state, and the count is growing daily.Washington himself is an interesting study of the Obama lure for young people. He might even be considered typical of the group. He is a college-educated young man whose wife is expecting their first child within three months. (He is sure that it will be a girl and has a name already picked for her.) Yet he quit his comfortable job in the corporate world, sustaining a considerable monetary loss, to join the Obama troop because he felt that he could make a contribution. And, he feels a sense of pride for having made the transition.As political director, Washington’s job primarily entails enlisting the support of certain groups or categories of peoples such as Hispanics, African Americans, Latinos, fraternal groups and veteran’s groups. When asked how he could expect support from veteran’s groups when the opposition is a veteran hero who was a prisoner of war for several years, Washington’s reply was sharp: “Indeed we do get help from veterans. They admire McCain for his Air Force service but damn him for his record in Congress. He has voted against many veteran bills. There is an organized group that we work closely with called Minnesota Veterans for Obama.”Washington acknowledges that his job has been made harder by the emergence of Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate, but he says that overall her presence does not represent any permanent danger for the campaign. He says that the bulk of her support is coming from the socially conservative faction of the party that has been displeased with McCain as the nominee selection and probably would not have voted at all if someone of her ilk had not been chosen to run with him. “Furthermore,” he stated emphatically, “we are not building just for this election; we are building with grassroots people of all persuasions to create a better America.” Something in the tone of his voice convincingly conveyed the sincerity of his belief.Asked how he reconciles the fact that a recent Star Tribune poll shows McCain and Obama tied in the state, Washington gave little credence to the findings of those polls. He did acknowledge that there had been some movement in polls since the RNC convention was held here in Minnesota and the exposure of the Sarah Palin phenomena.“Furthermore, polls are indications of a point in time,” he said. “That survey was taken during the height of the RNC convention. If the polling were taken today, I’m sure the results would be different.”A little more about Dominick Washington, since he is destined to be much of the Obama brain trust in the state until the election: He is an upper-Midwesterner by birth — born, reared and educated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His parents had migrated from rural Mississippi in the early ’70s. He attributes his educational ambition and desire to be a part of public discourse to his great aunt’s influence. She was a teacher who in the ’60s worked with the likes of Medgar Evers in the Civil Rights Movement. An opportunity to work as an assistant in the Washington, D.C., office of Senator Tom Daschel, Senate Majority Leader from South Dakota, was another force that drew Dominick Washington into the public service sector. He was with the office during the 9/11 disaster as well as during the period of the anthrax scare. In fact, he says that he had an assignment in the White House during the 9/11 incident and was exposed to the upheaval that it created. Washington seems to think that out-state and rural Minnesota is proving to be not as difficult in the selling of Obama as one might think. With a few notable exceptions, he and much of his cadre are finding that for the most part those people who have not been exposed to diversity are more concerned with a candidate’s political philosophy than the color of his skin. “There are exceptions,” he hastened to add, “but I don’t think that [such exceptions] are as prevalent as in the larger cities.” His undying confidence in the inevitability of Obama becoming the next president on November 4 may be a job prerequisite, but Washington is as certain of success as he is of the changing of the seasons, both in Minnesota and nationally. “There isn’t an iota of doubt in my mind,” he stated.
Madison - Last week in Madison the Campaign for Change student headquarters for University of Wisconsin - Madison opened its doors. A hub of activity all week long, the office is home to two CFC Field Organizers, one College Student Coordinator, one High School Student Coordinator, and many volunteers. If you visited the office last week you may have experienced their opening party, or phone banked Tuesday on high school night, or maybe you were part of the student canvassing efforts that went on all week.
Youth involvement has been important to the success of this campaign since the beginning. In Iowa it was the students who came out at the same rate as senior citizens to Caucus for Barack Obama. During the months following Barack's early victories in Iowa and South Carolina, the campaign saw droves of young people leaving their jobs and putting their lives on hold to join the movement for change. This has created a new political generation that has been empowered by Barack's message; who have proven the cynics wrong with their message of substantive change.
Here in Madison it is no different. The office at 216 N Henry St, is a beacon of the change that is growing from the bottom up on a grassroots level and being led by people who are new to the political process or coming back to it after a long time away. To get involved with the student organizing at the Madison Student Headquarters visit the office on Henry Street and join this historical movement for change.
Even if you have not been involved before, that's ok, the students and staff at the Madison office will provide you with everything you need to be successful. With less than forty days to go, our sense of urgency has never been greater.
Check out these photos from the office opening party:
Feeling the fierce urgency of now?
Get involved now - Find a Local Office - Make Phone Calls - Go Door to Door
The New York Times recruited student reporters from colleges and universities across the country to report on student reaction to last night's debate. The reviews are in: Senator Obama's message of change, relief to middle class families, and a smart foreign policy continues to resonate with young people.
I'll let them explain why. Here's some reaction from Zach Aman at the Colorado School of Mines:
A massive group of students concluded that “Obama definitely won that debate."
The general consensus is that Obama sounded more “balanced,” with a “wider” and “broader” view of the situation.
Obama’s advice seems to resonate with the libertarians at the Colorado School of Mines; if you’re going to give money to the corporations, the federal government must be accountable to the taxpayers. The ideas of “eliminating golden parachutes” and ensuring responsible oversight are essentials.
Genny McLaren, California State University-Chico:
Students liked that Obama said that dependency on oil and whether peak oil is coming in the next 20 or hundred years, we need a plan now and need to address foreign issues that have to do with specifically with foreign oil use. That is something that the current administration has failed to do.
Our newspaper just finished a three-day survey of 350 undergraduate students on campus (about 3,000 total). We’ve got a diverse representation of opinion. 71 percent of respondents said they were absolutely certain to vote in November. 52 percent said if the election were held today, they’d vote for Obama, 32 percent said McCain, 17 percent were undecided.
Katelyn Polantz, University of Pittsburgh:
“We’re less respected now,” Obama said. How true. Last year, I spent a semester in London at a program hosting students from Pitt and a few other schools. When we arrived, we were warned how closely Europeans and Britons, specifically, follow American foreign policy and politics. We were often approached by Londoners in casual conversation about how we felt about the United States’ actions abroad and how we felt about the current administration. And generally, we hadn’t often met too many Europeans who were in favor of recent foreign policy — some Europeans were even hostile to my fellow students purely because of our Americanism . . . Obama’s image abroad, as evidenced by his tour this summer, couldn’t hurt.
Jeffrey Riley, University of Central Florida:
I believe that Obama’s concern for “middle America,” not only on how the American economy will effect them through changes in taxing, but inversely how America’s foreign policy abroad ends up effecting them, will greatly resonate with the students at UCF.
Ellis Smith, University of West Georgia, Carrolton:
People are really responding positively to Obama’s “This idea that by not talking to people we’re punishing them is silly."
What came through most clearly in these reactions is that students all across the country are hungry for specific proposals from the candidates to address our future. Senator Obama was clear, composed, and detailed in his vision for America last night.
You can learn more about Senator Obama's positions here, and register to vote or request an absentee ballot at voteforchange.com -- tell your friends!
Elizabeth Levine spends almost every waking moment outside of class at the Madison Field Headquarters of Barack Obama's campaign. Though she's too young to vote, she sees it as a way to make a real difference. "A lot of people feel like very small fish in a very big pond," says Levine, 17, a senior at West High. "It's not just the people on top that can make a difference." Levine is one of dozens of Madison high school students actively engaged in Obama's statewide Campaign for Change. She works as an unpaid intern, through a program run by the campaign for high school and college students. Collectively, they make the Monroe Street campaign office ground zero for one of the most youth-centric campaigns this state has ever seen. This fall, high school students from throughout the Madison area are devoting at least 15 hours each week -- and some considerably more -- to Obama's Wisconsin campaign. Nationally, Obama's campaign cites as one of its goals to support "a new generation of leadership that believes, like Sen. Obama, that real change comes from the ground up."
It was a Monday evening on a college campus. The football game would be on in a couple hours, the barbecue was fired up and the burgers were cooking. However, the people congregating at the picnic tables weren't discussing the Chargers versus the Jets. They weren't focused on the busy first day of classes looming tomorrow. Instead, they were discussing something far more important and intriguing: their future and each other.On Monday, Northwestern University students congregated around four picnic tables and two grills for a "BBQ for Barack". Almost 300 students showed up to find out more about the campaign and what they could do to help (and of course free burgers!). While the event, hosted by Northwestern University Students for Barack Obama and College Democrats, was designed to raise awareness about the organizations, it also raised awareness about the students themselves. Alison, a junior from Coconut Creek, FL, felt that "everyone's pretty enthusiastic. It's really cool to actually see people out here wanting to do something!"In a college student's daily discussions, politics has difficulty getting the same play time as classes, parties and how unfair it is that all the freshmen get wireless in their dorms. However, this gathering clearly showed that there is a crowd that wants to discuss the issues that are important and relevant to the world outside campus life. Jacob, a senior from San Francisco, said there were "lots of familiar faces that you wouldn't expect to see here. It's always nice to see young faces, people my own age, interested." And many of these students were far more than just interested. Approximately 140 students pledged to travel to Iowa with the campaign at least once, with more than 80 planning on going this Saturday. NU students have often complained of political apathy on campus. This election, this candidate and this message have changed that. Today's students are finding their voices and using them to declare the need for change in this country. Thousands of students across the country are sacrificing their time, a precious commodity in college, to help the campaign that has inspired millions. Anyone wanting to see the hope in Barack Obama's campaign need only look out at that crowd of students and find inspiration.
College students are understandably worried right now by the state of the economy. Seniors (like me) are certainly troubled by job prospects after graduation. What happens on November 4th is going to affect all of our futures – young and old – but for young people, it seems especially urgent. The economic turmoil this week has made it even clearer that we need to get to the polls on Election Day and vote for Barack Obama.
Thankfully for students, the website voteforchange.com makes it easy to register and work out all the details of an absentee ballot application. Our job as students is not only to register ourselves, but also to make sure that all our friends know about voteforchange.com.
The Obama campaign is helping by launching an ad campaign in college newspapers. One target is North Carolina’s “Research Triangle,” where ads for voteforchange.com have been running in Durham’s The Independent and UNC-Chapel Hill’s The Daily Tar Heel. The ads address energy with a quote by a student named Josie K:
I registered because the future won't run on oil.
Barack Obama will be in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Washington Street in front of the J. Douglas Galyon Depot on Saturday. Doors open at 10AM, and the event begins at 12:15PM. This campaign is doing everything it can to win the state of North Carolina, and with the help of young people and students who use voteforchange.com, we can do it.
You can join North Carolina Students for Obama here, and sign up for school-specific text message updates. Don’t get mad, get registered – and register your friends.
Today, students across the state of Missouri marked the looming voter registration deadline by staging massive registration efforts. At University of Missouri alone, over 150 students have volunteered their time to making sure that their peers have their voice heard on November 4th. Thus far they have registered over 500 people today alone.
Remember, the registration deadline in Missouri is 10/08/08 (October 8th). If you're not registered, have recently moved or just want to check your status, visit voteforchange.com for all the resources and answers you might need. If you're a student looking to get active, become a part of Students for Obama today and start impacting change on your campus.
"There’s only one candidate who is looking at how we make college affordable for every single child in this nation..." -- Michelle Obama, September 22, 2008
On Monday morning, Michelle Obama hosted a conference call with college newspapers across the country to discuss the Obama-Biden plan for higher education and the importance of the youth vote. You can read more about her statements and see what students at the University of Colorado thought of the Obama-Biden plan.
We were planning to compare the Obama-Biden plan with John McCain’s plan for higher education, but he doesn’t seem to have much of one. His stated plan would seek to simplify the application process for existing tax benefits and financial aid, but offers no new aid proposals or plans to make college more affordable. The Colorado Daily reported that, when contacted yesterday, "McCain campaign officials declined to discuss their candidate's stance on higher-ed issues."
That’s definitely not the change we need.
In today’s economy, a college education is more important than ever. College trains the next generation for the jobs of tomorrow, and can get today’s young people on track for achieving their own American dreams.
That’s why Barack Obama and Joe Biden have proposed creating new programs to make college more affordable for every student.
The Obama-Biden plan creates a universal and fully-refundable $4,000 Opportunity Tax Credit. This credit will cover two-thirds the cost of college tuition at the average public state university and make community college almost free for most students. In exchange for the tax credit, students would be required to contribute 100 hours of community service. In this way, the Obama-Biden plan ensures that not only do American students get a great education, they will also learn the value of serving their community.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden will also streamline the financial aid process, removing key hurdles that keep students from the aid they need. Instead of filling out a cumbersome federal financial aid form, parents would simply be able to check a box on their tax forms authorizing their tax information be used to apply for financial aid.
Obama-Biden also plan to make college more affordable by expanding Pell grants for low-income students and ensuring that Pell grants keep up with the rising costs of college inflation.
Read more about the Obama-Biden plan to make college a reality for all American students...
MSU has re-taken the lead in the highly contested Gridiron Challenge from U of M. With only 12 Days Left to Register Voters in Michigan MSU has a 1 game lead.
JOIN YOUR SCHOOLS STUDENTS FOR OBAMA PROGRAM
AND HELP MAKE BARACK OBAMA OUR NEXT PRESIDENT
After writing her note about registering to vote yesterday, Michelle Obama spent her day promoting encouraging students and youth to get involved in the campaign and make a difference this November. Newspapers from across the country showcase Barack's plan for higher education today.
Here are just some of the many news clips...
From the Badger Herald:
Michelle Obama reached out to women and students of Madison Monday, encouraging them to register their friends and take them to the polls to vote for her husband, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, on Election Day. ...“We’re going to need...young people continuing the kind of hard work that has gotten us to this point,” Obama said. “The first thing we’re going to have to do is get people registered. That is the first step to change — it’s simple.” ...Obama also said the nation’s young people have been the “backbone” of the campaign, and they possess the ability to change “the whole outcome of this election.” Obama said she and her husband were “blessed and grateful” to be able to earn both undergraduate and law degrees and understand the challenge of paying for higher education. “We are grateful for having the opportunity to move from a working class family to corporate degrees with decent salaries, which we feel blessed,” Obama said. “But that education came at a cost,” adding she and her husband have only recently paid off their student loans. “There’s only one candidate who is looking at how do we make college affordable for every single child in this nation, regardless of their ability to pay,” Obama said.
From The Post:
Calling the next presidential election the “difference between war and peace,” Michelle Obama urged young people to educate themselves about political candidates and vote, during a conference call yesterday. “Young people will be dealing with the effects of this election for the rest of their lives,” Obama said. “A lot of campaigns haven’t taken students seriously. This year we’re going to turn that trend around.” Obama said that the upcoming election will affect students directly because students in the U.S. now face an average of $22,000 in student-loan debts after college and that the average age of a wounded or killed soldier in Iraq is 21. “The election will have enormous consequences and could determine the course of an entire generation,” she said.
From the Minnesota Daily:
The youngest set of voters has already been active this election season. But for that to really count, they need to stay involved until Nov. 4 , when ballots are cast, first lady hopeful Michelle Obama said in a Monday morning conference call. “The choice that America makes on Nov. 4 will have an enormous consequence for our country, and for the world,” she said. “This election is going to determine the course of an entire generation.” ...Obama said young voters, notoriously absent on Election Day, need to show up and vote for what they believe in — regardless of which box ends up checked on the ballot. “If young Americans want to have a say in what the future looks like, then they need to make their voices heard, and do it now, and declare their values and their priorities with their actions on Nov. 4,” she said. “But in the past, too many have decided to remain silent.” Obama listed growing unemployment rates, high student debt loads and a struggling economy as issues concerning young people. She said her husband plans to address those issues should he make it to the White House, and referred to his commitment as a senator to expanding federal Pell Grant availability. As president, she said, he’d ensure grant money keeps pace with the rising cost of college. To keep young people active in the voting process, the Obama campaign recently launched a website aimed at registering voters and educating them about the election process.
From the State News:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has focused on the youth vote during his campaign, and his wife, Michelle, is doing the same. Michelle Obama talked to college journalists Monday via a conference call about issues that concern young voters, such as health care, the economy and energy. ...The average college student is weighed down by almost $22,000 in student loans. That’s on average. Barack and I have experienced that as well because we just paid down our student loans. We were in debt to that tune even greater. Our country is facing high unemployment rates on top of it. And the bad news on the economy keeps coming. It’s getting harder for recent graduates to find jobs that pay a good enough wage to help cover the debt that they’re all coming out with. ...No matter who your readers support, I said in this race we need folks to register to vote, to make their voices heard. Young people have already made a huge difference in this election and they can determine the outcome on Nov. 4, but only if they speak out, only if they get involved, only if they register to vote.
From the Rocky Mountain Collegian:
...Fresh off a rally event supporting Sen. Obama's campaign in Madison, Wis., yesterday, Michelle Obama said "couple thousand" young people in the crowd reflected the significance of the youth vote this election. "It's important to note that young people have had a huge impact on how far this campaign has come," she said. "… I think that young people have really found their voice in this campaign, and I think that they see the future in this candidate. Many young people have left their schools, their jobs, they're sleeping on floors, they've been traveling around the country for 19 months (to follow the Obama campaign) because they know what's at stake." Obama spoke of her amazement at the amount of young students actively participating in the political process thus far, but also cited 2004 statistics that show only half of all young people who were eligible to vote registered, and of those registered, only 20 percent showed up to the polls. "But this year," she said, "we've got to turn that trend around, and I think we're doing that. Young folks know as well as anyone why this election matters, and many have already experienced how the choices made in Washington have everyday impacts on your daily lives."
From the Daily Evergreen:
More than 10 million young people failed to voice their opinion in the presidential election in 2004. The Obama campaign has made it a priority to reverse the trend. Michelle Obama held a conference call for college newspapers Monday morning, with the hope of relaying the importance of voting and higher education issues. The wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama spoke to reporters and college students across America from the University of Wisconsin. ... “This election is going to determine the course of an entire generation, and if not this one, then my girls’ generation,” Michelle Obama said. She said more than 50 percent of college students are not registered to vote. She said this is a growing problem among the nation’s college student body. “They need to make their voices heard and in the past, too many students have failed to make the effort to register to vote,” Obama said. During her speech, she tackled the problem of student debt, which is largely due to the continual rise of tuition, she said. The average college graduate owes more than $22,000 in debt, she said. As part of its education platform, the Obama campaign plans to provide $4,000 in tuition relief to students attending higher education. ...“This is a crucial moment in America’s history and that’s why we need to reverse the trend from 2004 when millions of young Americans opted out of voting on election and making history,” she said.
From the Daily Nebraskan:
Michelle Obama wants America's youth to register to vote. In a telephone press conference, reporters from university and college newspapers around the country were able to dial in and speak with the wife of the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama. "We need more young people to get involved," she said. "The choice that America makes on November 4th will have enormous consequences." ...But the Obama campaign is taking steps to close that gap, she said. Obama recommended young people visit www.voteforchange.com. "This is a one-stop resource for voter registration," she said. On the Web site, students can register to vote, find out if they are registered to vote, request to vote absentee and find out where to go to vote. Visiting the Web site and getting information should only take about three minutes, according to the site. "We need folks to register to vote," Obama said. "Young people have already made a huge difference." ..."We have a lot of young people who work for the campaign and I don't think that's intentional, but it's not completely accidental," she said. "We have offices open in almost every state, and Nebraska is no different. "Young people have really found their voice in this campaign," Obama continued. "Many young people have left their schools, their jobs; they're sleeping on floors and traveling around the country for 19 months. They know what's at stake, you may be seeing that in Nebraska as well."
Clockwise from top, right: Stephen from Appleton; Tom from Marquette, MI; Kendra from Marquette, MI; Zoe from Detroit, MI; Alicia from Marinette.
Big news in Georgia today: early voting has begun! Early voting is perfect for college students who are unsure about their class schedules, possible tests, or other factors that might stop them from voting on November 4th. Early voting locations for Georgia can be found here, along with hours and days when early voting is available.
Georgia Students for Obama has been working hard for months to try and turn Georgia blue, and they’re starting to get noticed. Public Broadcasting Atlanta just ran a story about efforts on Georgia campuses to register students in the state. At Spelman College, it sounds like things couldn’t be going better:
"We're Young Democrats of America. We're basically registering anyone who is not registered to vote."Flanked by Obama '08 fliers, [Sudria Twyman] thrusts voter registration cards and ink pens towards students. And the students eagerly oblige. "Just everybody wants to come out and support and be involved in the next election. We're getting overwhelming response from freshman as well as returning students."
It’s efforts like these, though they are difficult and sometimes can seem like an uphill battle, that could make the difference in this election. Thomas Kelley, blogging on the site for Georgia for Obama, has also recognized just how important student efforts will be in the state:
Here in Georgia something has been stirring on college campuses. Students are taking on leadership roles with the Campaign for Change. Unite for Change teams are active at almost every college campus within the state. Registering their fellow students at a rapid pace, student volunteers have exhibited a sense of urgency and activism that has not been seen out of younger Americans in decades. But there is still more work ahead.
The days are dwindling as we approach election day (only 43 left!), but in Georgia, you don’t have to wait. Go vote early today, and encourage your friends to do the same!
Here's a note from Michelle Obama...
Vote for Changeby Michelle Obama“Voter registration” is a pretty dry phrase, and it may seem like a small thing. Fill out a form, mail it in, and you’re done. Nothing to get excited about. But registering to vote means the difference between helping to change the world or letting the opportunity pass you by. It’s the difference between having a voice or watching silently as others make decisions that affect your life and your future. In other words, it’s incredibly important. And, while you may think you don’t have to worry about voting until November 4th, in many states, voter deadlines are coming up very soon. So in these final weeks before deadlines hit across the country, our campaign is focused on getting folks registered and ready to make their voices heard now. And we’re launching a new tool to make it easy to register too, which I hope you’ll check out. Our campaign has set up a website: www.VoteforChange.com. Go there now to check if you’re already registered to vote. If you’re not, www.VoteforChange.com will help you register, or arrange an absentee ballot or figure out where to go on Election Day.Here’s where you come in. No matter who you’re supporting in this election, check out the site, register to vote, and tell your friends about the site too. Right now, hundreds of thousands of young people across the country aren’t registered to vote. And registration deadlines are coming up in many states. So if you’re reading this, young unregistered folks, heads up! If you don’t act soon, you’ll miss your chance to have a say in this historic election. Today, I’m in Madison, Wisconsin, and talking with reporters from college newspapers all over the country to encourage them to report back to their schools about the importance of voter registration on their campuses. I’m going to share with them the points that I think every young person should consider in the final weeks of the campaign. Young people have been profoundly affected by the consequences of the past eight years. The war in Iraq has, in many ways, been fought by your peers. Of all the soldiers who have been wounded or killed in Iraq, their average age is just 21. The economy has also taken its toll. Today, the average college graduate has almost $22,000 in student loans. We’re dealing with record unemployment rates, and the bad news on the economy just keeps increasing… so it’s harder and harder for recent graduates to find jobs that pay a good wage. And then there are all the long-term challenges that the next generation (and their children’s generation) will face, unless we get ahead of them now. Challenges like developing renewable sources of energy, and rebuilding our schools, restoring the middle class, and making health care available to all Americans. If we don’t make progress on these issues soon, they’ll only get worse—and it’s the young people in this country who will shoulder the burden. The next president will also have great influence over global crises. Whoever we elect in November will have an enormous opportunity to influence the future of places like Darfur and Iraq… places torn apart by violence, where American leadership could mean the difference between a future of war or peace. And the next president will have the power to take us to the next level in the fight against global warming. The world has waited for years for America to lead on this issue. But we’ve delayed action… and our planet and neighbors around the world have suffered the consequences. The next president can lead us in a different direction. There are serious stakes in this election. We all need to make our voices heard – and we especially need you. As you might have guessed, I’ve already made my choice for President. But no matter who you vote for on November 4th, make sure you vote. And then tell your friends, classmates, and families to register as well. Visit the Website (www.VoteforChange.com) and show them how easy it is. For the past 19 months, Barack and I have traveled to every corner of this country. We have been so encouraged by the young people we’ve met… the bright, curious, creative, and passionate young men and women who have an enormous capacity for hard work and a deep belief that a better world is possible.We would never have come as far as we have in this campaign without students and young voters. You made this campaign a true movement for change. Now, let’s all vote on Election Day… and bring the change we need to the country we love.
