With McCain gone, young Republicans stick to plans, but with new sense of urgency

For young Republican organizations throughout Michigan tasked with selling a presidential candidate whose youth support pales in comparison to that of his rival, the McCain campaign's decision to pull out of Michigan was, for some, a bitter pill to swallow.

"I will I say disagree with Senator McCain's decision to stop campaigning in Michigan because I think Michigan can be won," said Jim Arapostathis, a member of Oakland University's College Republicans chapter. "I don't just think it's a lost cause."

Within most young Republican organizations, the McCain campaign's departure has forced them to ramp up their efforts in selling the McCain-Palin ticket to young people. However, that doesn't mean young Republicans are at all changing their strategies and organizing tactics, despite Sen. John McCain continuing to slip behind Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in various state polls taken since his campaign left the state.

“It’s really increased our passion for the cause even more, because we understand just how important these last weeks will be,” he said. “We understand that the importance has now been magnified.”

Despite McCain’s decreasing support in the state, Smith said that the College Republicans’ strategies for convincing students to vote for McCain aren’t changing at all.

He said College Republicans members will still focus heavily on grassroots organizing efforts, which include phone banking and going door-to-door in Ann Arbor. Smith said members of the College Republicans will also take advantage of new rules allowing volunteers to campaign in the dorms — an opportunity he sees as crucial to making individual contact with students on campus.

“Even in light of the McCain campaign pulling out, we’re focusing on these grassroots efforts, on making individual voter contacts and engaging people that way,” he said. “John McCain may have pulled out, but we still have a lot to fight for.”

At Oakland University in Rochester, about 40 miles northeast of Ann Arbor, Jim Arapostathis of OU's College Republicans chapter said he strongly disagreed with McCain's decision to pull out of Michigan. He said McCain's decision hadn't impacted the activities of the College Republicans at OU.

"It doesn't really have a strong effect on what we're doing," he said.
Much of the same can be said for the Michigan State University’s College Republicans chapter, which has no plans to radically change their campaigning efforts in and around East Lansing, said Louis Glinzak, the chapter’s press secretary.

“We’re still keeping our grassroots orientation, promoting to students McCain’s values, philosophies and what he would like to do as president,” he said.

Several McCain volunteers were threatened with arrest last week by a state GOP official if they used leftover campaign materials in an Oakland County campaign office. But MSU’s College Republicans still have access to a nearby office, Glinzak said. There, chapter members can take remaining campaign fliers and bumper stickers for distribution and can also volunteer to make phone calls for the campaign.

Glinzak said College Republicans members will continue to participate in weekly debates and forums with other campus groups as a way to encourage students to support the McCain-Palin ticket.

Glinzak said MSU’s College Republicans are also working closely with the Michigan Republican Party, which has its main offices across town from MSU, on grassroots organizing in the Lansing area and in other parts of the state. The two organizations are collaborating on a program in which state GOP staffers drive several vans filled with College Republicans or other conservative students from different colleges each weekend to different areas of the state where they campaign for the McCain-Palin ticket and Republican candidates running for local office.

“We’re pushing within our chapter to get more members interested and involved in that, and just getting MSU students involved as well,” Glinzak said.

Since the McCain campaign’s decision to stop campaigning in Michigan, Smith and Glinzak said they’ve faced questions about whether the Republican candidate actually cared about the state’s voters — especially young voters.

The two young politicos both said they relished the chance to respond to young voters’ worries and concerns, mainly because it gives them the opportunity to explain about why they think McCain is best suited for the presidency.

“We think that’s actually an opportunity when people approach us” with questions about McCain’s decision, Glinzak said. “I’d rather have people voice their opinion and let me explain why the senator made that decision. And after we explain why Senator McCain chose to do that, they seem to be more understanding.”

Smith said he thinks the University of Michigan’s College Republicans have a tougher sell, now that McCain’s presence in Michigan has diminished.

“They’ve asked me why it’s been left to the state party, and now that he’s gone, why should I vote for John McCain,” Smith explained. “Does it make our job a little bit tougher? Certainly. But I’m happy to answer the questions of anyone asking about John McCain.”