Nineteen-seventy-six was the last time the Pennsylvania primary was relevant in a Presidential election. For over 30 years, Penn students have not had a meaningful say in the Democratic Party's nominee for president.
This year we have our chance. The 2008 Presidential election is the most important election we have ever seen. The issues facing the next president of the United States are staggering - 47 million uninsured Americans, almost 4,000 American casualties in Iraq and an economy that has essentially entered a recession.
We expect Penn students to continue our fine tradition of high voter turnout. It is not enough, however, to just go vote - you must make an educated decision by choosing the candidate who is right for you.
There have been many opportunities over the last two months to learn the policy stances of the candidates, and we hope you have taken advantage of them to understand where Senator Clinton and Senator Obama stand on the issues that matter to you.
On March 5, 2008 the Penn Democrats endorsed Senator Barack Obama.
While we admire and respect Senator Clinton and appreciate her lifetime commitment to public service, we feel that Senator Obama better reflects students' interests in 2008. We believe Senator Obama has not only the vision but also the ability to bring substantial change to the way government and politics are typically run.
Keeping in line with the Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act he sponsored with Senator Russ Feingold, Senator Obama has not taken any campaign donations from federally registered lobbyists.
Instead, his campaign has been fueled by 1.3 million individual, mostly small-dollar, donations.
It is clear to us that throughout this long, grueling campaign, Senator Obama has carried his ideas and words into action.
Senator Obama's opposition to the Iraq war is perhaps the most well known fact about his past, which results in the tendency to discount its importance.
Do not fall into the trap of assuming all Democrats were in favor of this ill-advised, poorly implemented war - indeed, 23 Senators voted against authorizing U.S. involvement in Iraq, although Senator Clinton was not one of them.
Speaking out against the authorization of force was not a popular stance at a time when the White House deemed all opponents of the war "anti-American," and it is a testament to Senator Obama's courage, intellect and judgment that he made a public speech against the war.
We want the president of the United States to have the ability to put aside politics and party rivalry when making decisions that affect the nation and, indeed, the world.
There is a reason 73 percent of Penn's student body supports Senator Obama. It is not peer pressure or a result of "drinking the Kool-Aid" of hope. It is because he has the ability to make every American feel like they can get up and change the world in some small way. His campaign's success is proof that yes, we can change the way things are. Senator Obama is leading this primary nationally in total delegates, pledged delegates, total number of states and the popular vote.
Senator Clinton, however, is winning in Pennsylvania, and is tenaciously hanging on. In Pennsylvania, every vote counts.
When you vote on Tuesday, consider what you value most in the leader of your country.
Reject the past eight years of George W. Bush's rhetoric of fear and vote for pragmatic, inspiring change - vote for Senator Barack Obama.
Lauren Burdette is a College sophomore and president of the Penn Democrats.
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