Democrats hope to energize youth vote

Democrats are hoping an energized body of new young voters for Barack Obama will be one of the keys to victory this fall, but Wednesday afternoon’s sun-drenched event in the heart of Towson University’s campus showed the party has a way to go in turning the youth vote into electoral power.

“We haven’t completely lost hope,” said Caroline Vassighi, president of the Progressive Democrats of Towson, addressing about 250 people who crowded the shade near the sweltering Speaker’s Circle. “We’re not powerless — we’re a voting bloc. We need to make our needs clear.”