With the Virginia Democratic Primary fast approaching, student groups have entered the home stretch campaigning for their candidates heading into the election. Signs, buttons and shirt pins can be seen around Grounds as voters prepare to head to the polls.
Current Democratic front-runner Sen. John Kerry's political CIO on Grounds, "Cavs '04 Kerry" has been planning a variety of events leading up to the Feb. 10 primary including chalking, tabling the Lawn and selling T-shirts. The group also hosted Kerry's daughter, Vanessa, for a speech last October.
"We are getting more optimistic every day," Cavs '04 Kerry Chair Katie Cristol. "The interest is increasing as Kerry's popularity is."
Cristol stressed Kerry's recent successes in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire Primary in describing his chances of winning the presidency.
"I love his chances of winning," she said. "I firmly believe that not only is he on track and heading for a victory as the Democratic nominee, but that he can beat George Bush."
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's representative CIO also has been very active on Grounds.
Jill Raney, "Hoos for Howard Dean" co-chair and treasurer, said the campaign remains strong despite Dean's losses to Kerry in New Hampshire and Iowa.
Raney added that she thinks Dean has a good chance at winning in Virginia, despite describing Dean's loss to Kerry in Iowa and New Hampshire as a "setback."
Their organization plans to organize volunteers to get visibility at polling places during Election Day. In order to help Dean's candidacy in the commonwealth, the group has been planning "get out the vote" initiatives, including canvassing, tabling the Lawn and working phone banks.
Dean's college-age supporters also are organizing a nation-wide "Campus Invasion," to encourage larger voter turnout among the traditionally underrepresented 18-24 demographic.
"Two-thousand votes could be a lot for a Democratic Primary in a Republican state," said Andrew Horowitz, Hoos for Howard Dean co-chair.
Three other groups supporting Democratic nominees also have mobilized in an effort to gain support around Grounds. These University groups include "Hoos for Wesley Clark," "Hoos for Lieberman" and the "John Edwards Cavaliers."
On the other side of the political spectrum, "Students for Bush" have been readying themselves for campaigning leading up to the general Presidential Election Nov. 3.
The group, backing President Bush and Vice President Cheney's reelection campaign, plans to hold a rally at the street side of the Rotunda on Presidents' Day, Feb. 16.
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