Spring Break
Voices and Choices 08 | Aggies devote energy to promoting Obama
By: Amanda Grosgebauer
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News
Though Clinton made her first visit to Texas on Tuesday, Barack Obama supporters have been campaigning on campus for weeks and establishing a presence.
"Our involvement on campus has been just like the rest of the country to help Obama win the nomination of the Democratic Party," said Robel Tekleab communications coordinator for the on-campus campaign.
Campaign volunteers have been registering students to vote in the local primary, informing them about absentee ballot and deadlines, identifying volunteers and providing them with tasks to help the campaign.
For the past few weeks, the on-campus Obama campaign has made calls to other states to coincide with their primaries, though the focus has shifted to Texas as the March 4 primary date approaches.
"We will continue phone banking on campus, with neighborhood canvassing events starting soon," said Tekleab, who is a registered independent.
He commented on the term coined for those non-Democrats that support Obama, "Obamacan."
"He is appealing to people of all parties or no party. As Reagan might say, it really is 'a new day in America.' We have again a candidate who appeals to our hopes and asks us to work for it, instead of our fears," Tekleab said.
The on-campus group is made of individuals from all backgrounds, majors and political parties, said Bryan Henry, a junior history major who joined the campaign.
"Obama's plea for people of all parties to come together is not an idea or goal he will implement if elected; it is something he is already doing," Henry said.
Henry said that he is working hard for the campaign because he believes that Obama's leadership brings out the best in others, which enables them to cooperate and change the nation for themselves.
"Barack Obama represents a new direction for America and an opportunity to make history the textbooks won't have to lie about," said Henry, who has spent hours on the phone with nearby residents.
Joining him in phone banking is senior English major, Elizabeth Harris, who said that Obama is putting people back into politics, making the campaign "about our future, not mudslinging.
"As college students, our time to enter the work force is upon us," Harris said, "We will have to tackle many important issues, from care of our aging parents to the education of our children. Electing Obama for president would mean having a president that will work on our behalf."
Harris said that she originally got involved with Barack Obama's campaign because, "He's the first politician that believes in building amore united nation - a nation we can believe in once again."
"Our involvement on campus has been just like the rest of the country to help Obama win the nomination of the Democratic Party," said Robel Tekleab communications coordinator for the on-campus campaign.
Campaign volunteers have been registering students to vote in the local primary, informing them about absentee ballot and deadlines, identifying volunteers and providing them with tasks to help the campaign.
For the past few weeks, the on-campus Obama campaign has made calls to other states to coincide with their primaries, though the focus has shifted to Texas as the March 4 primary date approaches.
"We will continue phone banking on campus, with neighborhood canvassing events starting soon," said Tekleab, who is a registered independent.
He commented on the term coined for those non-Democrats that support Obama, "Obamacan."
"He is appealing to people of all parties or no party. As Reagan might say, it really is 'a new day in America.' We have again a candidate who appeals to our hopes and asks us to work for it, instead of our fears," Tekleab said.
The on-campus group is made of individuals from all backgrounds, majors and political parties, said Bryan Henry, a junior history major who joined the campaign.
"Obama's plea for people of all parties to come together is not an idea or goal he will implement if elected; it is something he is already doing," Henry said.
Henry said that he is working hard for the campaign because he believes that Obama's leadership brings out the best in others, which enables them to cooperate and change the nation for themselves.
"Barack Obama represents a new direction for America and an opportunity to make history the textbooks won't have to lie about," said Henry, who has spent hours on the phone with nearby residents.
Joining him in phone banking is senior English major, Elizabeth Harris, who said that Obama is putting people back into politics, making the campaign "about our future, not mudslinging.
"As college students, our time to enter the work force is upon us," Harris said, "We will have to tackle many important issues, from care of our aging parents to the education of our children. Electing Obama for president would mean having a president that will work on our behalf."
Harris said that she originally got involved with Barack Obama's campaign because, "He's the first politician that believes in building amore united nation - a nation we can believe in once again."
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