Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: News

Media Credit: Travis Hofman The Lakeland College chapter of Students for Bush meet on Monday, October 4.

You may not realize it, but your vote as a Northeast Wisconsin college student is very important in the upcoming presidential election. Since Wisconsin is a "battleground state," the stakes are big; whoever wins the state of Wisconsin may carry the entire presidential election, making our area of the state one of the most contested areas in the United States.

Northeast Wisconsin, including Sheboygan, Green Bay, and the Fox Valley, are being targeted in particular because they are more conservative and Republicans hope to counter the Democratic strongholds of Madison and Milwaukee by 2.2%, or around 5,000 votes. Broken down even further, this means that Gore won the state by 3 votes per ward. Political activists know this and both sides are working hard to swing the Wisconsin election their way.

This is why Vice President Dick Cheney recently appeared in Johnsonville and also why President Bush visited the Fox Valley. Democrats also realize the importance of Wisconsin as evidenced by John Kerry's week-long stay at the House on the Rock Resort in Spring Green to prepare for the first presidential debate.

Political organizations of all types, partisan and non-partisan, are trying to mobilize the college vote. Since the Florida election was determined by only a few hundred votes, political activists are trying to target specific constituencies - and one of the favorites is the college student. College students are energetic and willing to work at the grassroots level. They're also easier to organize and develop networks through the use of campus structures and friendships.

In an attempt to mobilize the college voter, many organizations such as the New Voters Project will "utilize state-of-the-art professional campaign strategies to mobilize 18-24 year old voters" in six targeted states-one of which is Wisconsin. According to the New Voters Project there are "23.9 million citizens, aged 18-24 across the nation" and these "young people represent a significant voting block."

Working in partnership with the New Voters Project is MTV with its "Choose or Lose" campaign, Rock the Vote, founded by leaders of the recording industry, and World Wrestling Entertainment and Hip Hop Summit Action Network with their "2 Million More in '04" campaign.

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