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A GOP on the rise

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Washington, D.C. should be home turf for the GOP. From our view of the Washington Monument, we control both the House and Senate as well as the most powerful position, arguably, in the world -- the presidency of the United States. But things are far from friendly here on Capitol Hill -- with a city that has voted over 80 percent Democratic since Reagan's election and has gone to the Democratic candidate since the 1960s, Republicans aren't finding any easy victories here. Yet day after day, poll after poll, the GOP of D.C. struggles on, encouraging people to make the right decision on Nov. 2: four more years. It is a fight that is simply a microcosm of the greater Republican struggle -- and a fight that will be won, in a large sense, today with the re-election of George W. Bush.

For the past four years, the Republican Party has lead a strong, courageous battle against those things that wish to harm America. And no, I am not just talking about the terrorists.

President Bush has led the fight for a better economy -- trying to make up for the slowdown he inherited from the (thankfully) long-gone Clinton years, and the brutal blow Sept. 11 had on our financial stability. He's opened up Medicaid benefits to help ease the rising costs of medical coverage brought about by numerous causes, including outlandish law suits (John Edwards, I am looking at you.) He struggles for school vouchers and makes sure that no child is left behind in our educational system.

This message, though is not reaching the residents of D.C. From K Street to Dupont Circle to Georgetown, Democratic residents remain the norm. Luckily, the tides -- not the current administration -- are changing.

In the 2000 election, the Republican Party of D.C. did not even have a headquarters in the city. They were spread around with no central location. In the words of Chair Betsy Werronen, no one even knew they existed. That year the city voted overwhelmingly for former Vice President Al Gore -- 86 percent in favor of the Democrat who couldn't even win his home state. Four years later, D.C. is still overwhelmingly Democratic, and its three electoral votes are not even in question. But things have changed -- visibly changed. The Republican Party of D.C. now has headquarters sitting prominently on K Street in the heart of the Washington lobbyists' headquarters. Bush/Cheney signs in the front windows draw in foot traffic -- average Washingtonians asking how they can help or just looking for more information.

In the already liberal stronghold of higher education, colleges surrounding the D.C. area are seeing a boost in their Republican numbers. At nearby American University, 350 students showed up for the College Republicans kick-off meeting -- over 50 more than at the College Democrats meeting. They have spent the past month in Michigan and Pennsylvania, at phone banks and flyering -- fighting the good fight for our president. And two streets over from both Kerry and Edwards' Georgetown homes, students at GU are campaigning hard for the Bush ticket. Senior Christaan DeLivigi will be a precinct captain in the capital all day today -- making sure people know the facts about the Bush administration and encouraging the GOP ticket.

Granted, a nice building, a handful more students at a meeting and one dedicated Hoya won't change the Presidential election. But it's a start.

Hopefully, it's a start that will spread to the rest of the nation. We won't know the final numbers of D.C.'s vote until late tonight, but one thing can be clear: this city represents the hard work and dedication of Republicans everywhere. Republicans who are willing to fight against animosity to stand for what they believe in; Republicans who are unwilling to back down when loss looks inevitable.

President Bush is one of these Republicans -- he will continue to fight for our safety, our future, our health, our education and our values. And behind him the whole way will be the D.C. Republicans who won't back down or give up, regardless of the outcome of this election.

Today, Americans have the chance to re-elect a great national leader who will help create a stronger America. Washington, D.C., will sadly vote for Sen. Kerry, but in the hearts of people like Cherrenon, DeLuigi and others, it will always be Bush Country. Here's hoping the rest of the nation will be too.

Maggie Bowden is a Cavalier Daily Opinion editor. She can be reached at mbowden@cavalierdaily.com. She is staying in Washington, D.C., and will opine on the election results in tomorrow's paper.

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