Early caucuses put student pro-Obama vote in play

[ariesgem]

University of Iowa sophomore Caitlin Ross from Rockford, Ill., plans to drive her mom's minivan back to campus, packed with other Barack Obama supporters, for the caucus on Jan. 3.

Iowa campuses will be on winter break Jan. 3, which could steer his young supporters to a hometown event, or leave them stranded.
By Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 21, 2007

AMES, IOWA -- In the days leading up to the 2004 Iowa caucuses, Iowa State University's sprawling campus crackled with excitement. Volunteers, celebrities and candidates thronged the university, urging students to vote in the nation's first presidential contest. Campus rallies had the charged atmosphere of rock concerts, and singer Joan Jett stopped by to belt out a new take on her hit "I Love Rock N' Roll" -- "I Love Howard Dean."

It's going to be different this time: The Iowa caucuses are being held Jan. 3, the middle of winter break. With college students home for the holidays, campuses across the state will be empty.

But the early caucus date could shift voter dynamics, adding young voices at their hometown caucuses across the state while diminishing the turnout at college precincts. Or, it could mean even fewer college students will take part in the electoral process.

Either outcome will affect the tally for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who is in a tight race with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York to carry the state. The Obama campaign is banking on young voters, and the timing of this year's caucuses could work to his advantage.

"It's much easier to get kids to caucus if they're on campus," said Gordon Fischer, former chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party and an Obama supporter. "But when they're spread out, students can have a lot more impact."

University officials are dealing with the early date by getting the word out to students about the ease of registering at home, and making accommodations for those who plan to return to campus to attend the caucus.

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Hundreds of Iowa State students attended a recent panel in the Memorial Union hosted by the Catt Center, where party officials explained how the caucus works.

Mary Ann Spicer, president of the Polk County Republican Women, led students in call-and-respond chants of "Iowa" and "Caucus," before urging them to vote on Jan. 3.

"You can register the night of the caucus. This is good," she said. "If you cannot come back to your primary school base, attend and register at your home base."

Fischer, the Obama supporter, was more blunt.

"I would get down on my hands and knees and beg you to come to the Iowa caucus," he said. "Please, please come out. You can really make a difference."

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More than 5,000 University of Iowa students are Illinois residents, a pool of potential Obama supporters who must return to campus to vote. Hawkeyes for Obama is setting up carpools between Illinois and Iowa City, and trying to find couches for students to crash on after the caucus.

Caitlin Ross, a sophomore from Rockford, Ill., plans to drive her mom's champagne-colored seven-seat Honda minivan back to campus on Jan. 3, packed with other Obama supporters.

"We have a really great opportunity because he's our senator, and there are a ton of students who go to the University of Iowa from Illinois," said the 20-year-old history education major. "If we all came back and caucus, it would make a really big difference."

But political observers, recalling previous presidential campaigns where the youth vote was touted but failed to materialize, remain wary.

"Jan. 3 is just going to be tough," said Tim Hagle, associate professor of political science at the University of Illinois and faculty advisor to the campus Republican club. "We won't know till caucus night how it shakes out."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-collegevote21nov21,0,6768893.story?page=2&coll=la-home-center

[MADem]

1. I think, in this mobile society, that 'caucuses'--while adorably quaint and traditional--

disenfranchise voters.