Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Mike Huckabee’s campaign told its hosts at the University of Maryland to expect a crowd of about 300 for a rally Saturday. But more than a 1000 spectators piled into the event.
Youth voting exploded in many early primary states compared with the 2004 election cycle, according to Rock the Vote, a Washington-based organization that encourages youth voting.
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On the Democratic side, Sen. Barack Obama has energized young voters. But with less national notice, Huckabee is motivating young Republicans.
“We feel more inspired now,” said Chris Banerjee, president of Maryland’s College Republicans, the group that hosted the Huckabee event.
“Students do tend to go Democratic, but [Huckabee]’s really a great campaigner,” said Mike Besser, vice president of the university’s College Democrats. Events like Saturday’s challenge the assumption.
“I think the amount of liberalism among young voters is over-stated,” Banerjee said. “Conservatism wins in America when it is expressed as what it really is. Mike Huckabee does that.” Banerjee and his organization have not endorsed any candidate.
In 2004, 88% of students who talked regularly talked politics voted, according to research by political scientistRichard Neimi at the University of Rochester.
“There’s been a lot of action by student organizations,” Neimi said. Those groups, he suggests, get students talking about politics.
Students at University of Maryland who are involved in political organizations will vote, Banerjee agreed. Those students also work to get less vocal colleagues to the polls.
Young voters have turned out in record numbers for all candidates, but CNN exit polls say Huckabee and Obama draw the most student attention.
“Obama and Huckabee are both great orators,” said sophomore Stephen Steinberg. His parents are Democrats, but he came to the Huckabee event to make up his own mind, he said.
