Students Thrill to the Campaign Trail

January 10, 2008

An Exeter senior asks Obama a question about education at a rally two days before the primary

With primary fever palpable throughout New Hampshire, it's no surprise that Exonians joined the political fray. They jumped in with challenging questions – "How can any of your campaign promises be trusted?" one Exeter student asked Romney during a visit to campus – and stump-supportive canvassing and phone banking. More than 600 students have signed up for involvement in political clubs on campus.

On the morning of primary day, 45 Democratic Club members rolled out of bed at 4:30 a.m. to start the get-the-vote-out effort. After a first stop for doughnuts, they split into buses and cars to put literature in Exeter mailboxes and doorways. The students, all back on campus in time for their first class, were geared up for the historic day. "It's great that we have candidates the kids can connect with," said Maggie, an upper and avid Clinton supporter.

The get-the-vote-out effort capped months of hard work by students of all political stripes. The Democratic Club estimates that students have made 15,000 phone calls during more than 70 hours of phone banking since September '07. The Republican Club also phone banked and held political discussions.

Four candidates spoke to students on Exeter's campus in the pre-primary run-up: Romney, Kucinich, Richardson and Gravel. For the Kucinich visit, students served as MC and questioners. Surrogates for the Obama, Clinton and Edwards campaigns also came to campus. Exonians found it easy to travel to local rallies and visibility opportunities for all the major candidates, with several holding hugely popular events at Exeter Town Hall and Exeter High School.

"The New Hampshire primary will only happen once while we're here," said Rebecca, a lower, who attended the Edwards, Gravel, Richardson and Romney events on campus. "I like to hear the politicians speak." Although some students picked specific candidates, many, like Rebecca, attended political events on both sides of the aisle. "I've always watched elections on TV," explained another Rebecca, also a lower. "But, this is the first time I can understand it and voice my opinion."

For many students whose families live in other states, the chance to see the first-in-the-nation primary up close was exciting. Will, an upper and co-head of the Republican Club who hails from Idaho, said: "The first event I attended this year was in a backyard in Exeter with John McCain. To see someone who is likely the next President of the United States give a speech from a back porch that looks like mine reminds me of the human quality of the race that we in New Hampshire get to witness so intimately over such an unusually long period of time." 

Although the majority of students will not be able to vote for this president, they have enjoyed being involved, and they have learned about the political process. "A lot of people said 'thanks' for doing this work," says Max, a Democratic Club co-head and upper. Nelia, a senior, found that her status as a student helped when making phone calls. "If you're a student, they're surprisingly willing to listen to you." Molly, an upper from North Carolina who works as an event coordinator on the Edwards campaign, has appreciated access to the candidates. "It’s of great importance to be informed about all the candidates, so I have volunteered at an Obama event and talked to Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich when I was working in the U.S. House of Representatives this summer."

The diversity of this year's candidates is one of the exciting factors in '08, according to Sekhar, a senior and Democratic Club co-head. "The diversity of candidates matters a lot in this race," he said. "I caught the tail end of the '04 race. But this is very different, with Obama and Clinton running. We have a whole new set of kids on campus involved."

On Monday, the day before voting, the candidates logged more than 50 events, according to New Hampshire Presidential Watch. Richardson's last day of pre-primary campaigning culminated in a series of "Final Presidential Job Interview" forums, including one on Exeter's campus which was attended by more than 200 people.

Students have also had the opportunity to work with journalists covering the primary. Jon Greenberg, New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) reporter, has come to campus several times to discuss political reporting and NHPR's online election reporting hub, primaryplace.com, which focuses on the town of Exeter. Journalists from "Feet in Two Worlds: Immigrants in a Global City," which airs on WNYC New York Public Radio, have also come to campus for question-and-answer sessions with students.

Now, with the primary over, what's the mood on campus? "We’ll definitely continue," says Nelia, Democratic club co-head and Richardson supporter heading into the primary. "Before that, we'll sleep for a week," adds Max. Sekhar viewed the unexpected Democratic results as proof that the process is democratic after all. "It's exciting that there's still a race," he said. "We wouldn't want Iowa to decide for the whole country."

Students at an Obama rally two days before the                    Nelia introducing Richardson in Exeter's library.
primary.                                                                                    Sekhar and Max stand next to the candidate.

Interested in learning more?

Read about Exeter's political clubs...
Check out Primary Place Online…
View coverage of Romney's visit to campus…
Read about Kucinich's visit to Exeter…
Learn about Exeter's Washington Intern Program…