In a long primary season, students say they're staying motivated

It's been more than three months since this year's first presidential primary - but despite the long, still-contested race for the Democratic nomination, Penn students and political groups are still interested and motivated.

Most pundits predicted a quick primary season, expecting the nominations for both parties to be wrapped up after 22 states voted on Super Tuesday. But contrary to these predictions, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama are both still in the race and the Democratic nomination is still up for grabs.

Both Penn for Obama and Penn for Hillary said the importance of Pennsylvania's April 22 primary has kept them motivated.

"At first we were a little bummed that Pennsylvania was so late, so that most of the stuff we were able to do was peripheral," said Penn for Hillary spokeswoman Julie Siegel, a former Daily Pennsylvanian Spin editor. "I think that we haven't had any problems getting people fired up because people are really excited that they have an impact."

For Obama supporters, their candidate's underdog status has kept them energized in campaign efforts.

Obama has trailed Clinton by double-digits in the polls and still is 6.6 points behind her, according to RealClearPolitics averages. But this challenge doesn't seem to faze the members of Penn for Obama.

"I think there's a recognition that Pennsylvania is an uphill battle for Senator Obama," Julian Harris, the group's co-president, said. "I think that's one of the reasons we're working so hard."

Obama volunteers received an additional morale boost last week, when Obama made a stop in Philadelphia to speak to those involved in his campaign.

"Some people were a little tired," Harris said. "The event helped to reinvigorate some of our leaders and volunteers."

Because student groups said they had planned for the possibility of a significant Pennsylvania primary early on, they said it's easier to keep up efforts now.

"One of our advantages is that we had a strong organization here, which made it easier for us to hit the ground running" once Pennsylvania's importance became clear, Harris said.

Siegel said that because Penn for Hillary formed last April, the group was able to get an early start in its organizational efforts both in general and here in Pennsylvania.

For some, however, the election has begun to drag on a little too long.

"I guess it's kind of a mix," said College sophomore Ginny Halden.

She said she is still interested because it's her first time voting in a presidential election but added, "At the same time, there's other important news, and it might be better to just see how things are going to pan out now."

Comments (3)

Barack Obama has said that words matter. The following quotes are from Barack Obama's first book - 'Dreams from My Father.' p.282 - Speaking of Rev. Jeremiah Wright - "He learned Hebrew and Greek, read the literature of Tillich and Niebuhr and the black liberation theologians." p.283 - Barack Obama wrote about his first meeting with Rev. Wright. Reverend Wright shrugged. "Some of my fellow clergy don't appreciate what we're about . They feel like we're too radical." p.293 - In the first sermon that Barack Obama attended at Trinity United Church Of Christ in Chicago, he heard Rev. Wright preach the following: "It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another, ..." Voters should scrutinize the personal choices (e.g., choosing 'Black Liberation Theology') of a candidate which can influence his perception of the world and events taking place in the world. Why did Barack Obama choose a spiritual adviser/mentor who taught 'Black Liberation Theology?' 'Black Liberation Theology' teaches an Anti-White Ideology. Why did Barack Obama listen to 'Black Liberation Theology' for 20 years and give significant amounts of money to support the preaching of 'Black Liberation Theology?' Why didn't Barack Obama choose a spiritual adviser/mentor who agrees with the teaching of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.? Rev. King warned against "drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred." Linda Chavez wrote "Afrocentrism Is the Problem" in the 3/19/2008 edition of 'National Review Online.' Check the archives at: http://www.nationalreview.com/archives/?q=MjAwODAzMTc Read many compelling reasons why Barack Obama cannot beat John McCain: http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/ Dolores Huerta wrote an article honoring Cesar Chavez and Hillary Clinton at: http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/blog/main/2008/03/31/135359#View... Dr. Maya Angelou's endorsement for Hillary - 'Celebrating Women: A Note from Dr. Maya Angelou' at: http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/blog/main/2008/03/31/154530 One issue is the 'Message' ('Black Liberation Theology'), not the 'Messenger' (Jeremiah Wright). The second issue is that Barack Obama exercised poor judgment in choosing 'Black Liberation Theology' and in making significant financial contributions during the past 20 years to support the preaching of 'Black Liberation Theology.' We do not believe he has the judgment to be our President. Hillary has the experience, compassion, intelligence, and tenacity to implement solutions to problems we are passionate about (bringing our troops home, strengthening the middle class, and enacting health care reforms). Jim and Sandy Boyd Phoenix, AZ

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-) If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE! You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton.. You Might Be An Idiot! If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-) Best regards jacksmith... p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering... You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone. To prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. Naughty Girl. :-) Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. And I could go on, and on...

DON'T BE DUPED !!! Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon. But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. �?Carpe diem�? (harvest the day). I think Hillary Clinton see�?s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it�?s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children�?s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now. You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don�?t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves. Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama�?s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE! As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help. Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton. If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON�?T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose. The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy. I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton�?s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama�?s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history. The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses. Fortunately the Clinton�?s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton�?s. Only the Clinton�?s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen. �?This is not a game�? (Hillary Clinton) Sincerely jacksmith...

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