Parties want students — or at least, Obama’s political campaign does.
President Barack Obama recently launched a new initiative, “Greater Together,” to encourage student voters to come to the polls in November 2012 and vote.
“The worst thing we could do is take support for granted,” said Jim Messina, Obama for America’s national campaign manager, in a telephone conference.
“We will fight and work for every single vote.”
Eight million first-time voters registered for the general election on Nov. 8 of this year, a number that could greatly influence Obama’s campaign next year, Messina said.
In 2008, 68 percent of voters ages 18-29 voted for him.
“It’s a huge demographic that isn’t really utilized,” said Nick Tuell, president of OU’s chapter of College Democrats. “The Obama campaign is working to get those people in the process for his re-election.”
The party has launched a website and activated Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr accounts to appeal to the student population. The site offers a platform for students to interact with the Obama campaign and review the changes he would make if he were re-elected.
“It’s greater to talk with young adults and not to them. We plan to meet them where they are — which is mainly online,” said Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Obama for America’s Youth Vote Director in the telephone conference.
For some, the fact that political parties are targeting college students is not a surprise.
“That’s their whole job, really,” said Crescent Gallagher, a previous vice president for OU’s chapter of College Republicans. “It’s hard for some individuals to get involved in politics or partake in them. The parties are there to facilitate. Everyone should have ideals and not just follow what the parties are saying.”
No matter what the parties’ motives are, students should go out and vote, said John Gilliom, professor and chair of OU’s political science department.
“Anything which can encourage the fragile population to get out to the polls is a good thing,” he said. “It’s fragile because people that age are mobile in their lives. We don’t make it easy to vote. Younger people need to stay focused on voting while they move around and do other things.”
OU has several organizations that encourage students to be politically involved.
Tuell said he is aware of the power of his vote.
“It affects us every day not being involved. Not being active only hurts you in the long run,” he said. “Make sure your voice is heard. It’s really important for our livelihood here on campus and our future after we graduate.”
The issues on this year’s ballot are especially important, Gilliom said.
“Since I’ve been voting, rarely has there been this dramatic of a set of arguments,” Gilliom said. “It’s an amazing, epic battle on views of government. If you can’t vote on this stuff, maybe you don’t belong in a democracy.”
Members of Obama’s campaign team said they hope he will retain his spot atop the legislative branch for another four years.
“There are way more things he’s got to do,” Messina said. “We will work every single day and every night working on ways to a sustainable economy for students when they come in to the workforce. We look forward to talking with students about these issues in weeks ahead.”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
