By Glenn Yoder
With the New Hampshire primary looming on the horizon, the NU for Dean group on campus held their largest meeting to date on Wednesday, complete with two members of the state-wide chapter of the volunteer support group, Mass for Dean, at which they discussed ways to drum up support for the Howard Dean campaign in Massachusetts and New Hamp-shire.
The two guest speakers from Mass for Dean said that now is the time to win over voters. Their proposed method of attack: campusing – an activity in which volunteers go door-to-door persuading those on the line to support Dean.
“New Hampshire is [Dean’s] No. 1,” said Bruce Henderson, one of the volunteers. “His staff is targeted and direct. They’re personal. Campusing is effective. We’re not trying to change people’s minds and votes. We’re trying to encourage those who haven’t been voting to go to the polls. Give people a reason to vote and they’ll come out and vote.”
Henderson’s partner from Mass for Dean, Stacey Stein, said she is confident in the New Hampshire support because the candidate appeals to a different generation than his competition.
“We’re trying to bring back community and connection,” she said. “Most Dean supporters are 18 to 30 years old. Since statistics show that people of that age generally don’t vote, most candidates focus on older people. But Dean actually wants to hear what we have to say. He’s a candidate that doesn’t want to talk down to us; he’s not patronizing. He wants to know how to make what’s important to you into law.”
NU for Dean founder and freshman journalism and international affairs major Jason Zaler said that Dean’s younger attitude helps him relate to students.
“He’s not afraid to say what he thinks about the issues,” he said. “He speaks with passion. He’s not a candidate that pretends to listen to voters while 65-year-old men craft his perspective.”
Members of NU for Dean participated in their first campusing event in New Hampshire on Saturday. Third-year economics major Daniel Finer, who chose to participate in the campusing effort, said that the experience is worthwhile.
“For those that were uninformed, we put the name ‘Dean’ into their minds,” he said. “He’s the realest candidate and he values the opinion of the student. He has two children our age; he understands the importance of young voters. Plus, it’s good to be involved.”
Campusing will take place every weekend until the New Hampshire primary. For more information, write to: [email protected] or call (617) 519-8986.
