October 21, 2009 - 12:41am
College Democrats campaign in Virginia during Fall Break
BY GRACELIN BASKARAN
While most students used the long weekend to study for upcoming exams or catch up on some much-needed sleep, a small group of students spent the time campaigning for an upcoming gubernatorial election.
The University’s chapter of College Democrats traveled to Virginia to help campaign for Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for governor in the state. The group also campaigned for Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon for lieutenant governor and attorney general, respectively.
“We really believe that Deeds has a vision for Virginia,” said College Democrats Press Secretary Joe Sandman. “He has a strong Democratic platform committed to the environment and equal economic opportunities for everyone.”
The effort was part of an annual trip during Fall Break where the College Democrats choose a tightly contested race across the country and provide assistance in the campaign for the Democratic candidate. Previous trips have been to Marquette, Mich., campaigning for President Barack Obama, and to Kentucky, campaigning for current Gov. Steve Beshear.
“Everyone in College Democrats cares about politics,” said Evan Nichols, College Democrats member and LSA freshman. “And having a Democratic governor (in Virginia) directly affects national policy. In terms of electoral votes, if we keep electing Democrats, we can solidify our base and that’s crucial for presidential elections.”
Thirty students from College Democrats, ranging from freshmen to seniors, carpooled to Virginia Friday night to knock on doors and make phone calls.
“Our trip was incredibly successful,” said Samuel Marvin, chair of College Democrats. “I knocked on 150 doors a day. We made thousands of phone calls and handed out absentee ballots as well as talking to people to help them out to vote.”
Marvin, an LSA senior, said the group was initially torn between going to Virginia or New Jersey for the break — both of which are expected to have close gubernatorial races — but ultimately chose Virginia because members believed they would be able to have a greater impact there.
Marvin said that Virginia is slowly “turning blue,” as the state voted Democratic in the 2008 presidential election for the first time in 40 years.
“Since it’s a state that’s turning blue,” he said, “we decided our impact would be greatest.”
Going to Virginia, Marvin said, also gave them an opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.
“The first day we were there, it was raining and cold but we kept our morale high and went and checked out D.C.,” Marvin said. “We had a great time on the political and organizational side of things.”
