The Iowa Caucuses last night marked the official start of the race to select the Democratic candidate who will face off with President George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election.
Student groups around Grounds are joining in the action, campaigning for the candidate of their choice and making plans to step up the intensity as Virginia's Feb. 10 primary approaches.
The University Democrats will send a bus to New Hampshire Thursday loaded with 50 students ready to campaign.
"We're looking forward to spending four days doing to the best we can getting out the vote," said Katie Cristol, president of Cavs for Kerry, which is sending five members to New Hampshire to work for Senator John Kerry for the weekend.
Upon their return, organizations such as the John Edwards Cavaliers intend to focus on the Virginia primary.
"When we get back, we'll be handing out a lot of literature and information around Newcomb and on the Lawn," John Edwards Cavaliers President Matt Sonneborn said. Last semester the group garnered 332 signatures to put Edwards on the ballot in Virginia, bringing in more than half the names required for his inclusion.
Other organizations are coordinating information sessions and looking to attract prominent speakers. The Hoos for Lieberman campaign is hoping to entertain Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine.
"We'd like to get a high-profile endorser to come to U.Va.," said Ilan Kaufer, a campus coordinator for Lieberman.
Sean Moynahan, president of Hoos for Wesley Clark, said his organization plans to save most of its resources until the primary day itself, when the members will make phone calls and turn out at the polls for some last-minute politicking.
Hoos for Howard Dean, already a presence on Grounds after staging well-attended "meet-ups" last semester, so far has drawn the largest membership of any University organization supporting a specific candidate. The Dean group claims more than 100 members, while organizations for Clark, Edwards, Kerry and Lieberman maintain from five to 30 members.
Hoos for Howard Dean President Dave Wasserman was campaigning in Iowa at press time and could not be reached for comment.
Regardless of their membership numbers, student groups passionately proclaimed support for their respective candidates.
"He inspires people," Sonneborn said of Edwards. "He's popular among women, minorities and rich white men. He's absolutely the right candidate for the job."
Cristol said she appreciated Kerry's background.
"He's a brilliant man with great policy ideas," she said. "I'd love to see Bush try to paint him as a wuss, with his three purple hearts from Vietnam."
Moynahan also emphasized military experience, but he focused on Clark rather than Kerry.
"His experience, his record as a military figure greatly influenced my choice," Moynahan said. "He has the best chance of beating Bush."
Kaufer lauded Lieberman's conservative lean and foreign policy expertise.
"He has the most experience on the foreign affairs committee," Kaufer said, adding, "It's a great experience to get involved in national politics on a local level."
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