2008 Woodie Awards
Campaign 04: Aiming for the youth vote
Alex McMarron
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: News
Flipping the channels from MTV to BET, you cannot help but notice the bold slogan embroidered across P. Diddy's T-shirt, "Vote or Die," a clever catch phrase to motivate young people across the country to get out and vote.
According to the United States Census Bureau, only 32.3 percent of young Americans ages 18-24 voted in the 2000 presidential election. And considering the nominal margin of victory now, it should be no surprise that the major parties' primary targets for this year's presidential election are those on college campuses.
Tens of millions of dollars are being spent by political parties and non-profit organizations alike in an attempt to amass the youth vote. The Pew Charitable Trusts have given $9 million to the New Voters Project, a nonpartisan group that aims to register 265,000 18- to 24-year-olds in six swing states: Colorado, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Nevada, according to a Knight Ridder Tribune article. KRT also reported that the Young Voter Alliance has raised more than $1.3 million from Democrat, Independent and Green sources, and the College Republican National Committee has raised $5.5 million.
On Nov. 2, many McNeese students will be heading to the polls to cast their vote. The candidates are Republican, President George W. Bush; Democrat, John F. Kerry; Libertarian, Michael J. Badnarik and Independent, Ralph Nader, among others.
In less than six weeks, one of these four men will likely be the president of the United States of America. It should be remembered that the winner will be the primary key in making decisions about the economy, crime rate, abortion, gay rights, war, environment, taxes, gun control, jobs, health care, terrorism, illegal drugs and countless other issues. We are left with the decision of which candidate is more qualified for the position.
Senior English major Steven Brown's vote will be going to George W. Bush. "He is willing to not hide behind what's not popular," Brown said.
According to the United States Census Bureau, only 32.3 percent of young Americans ages 18-24 voted in the 2000 presidential election. And considering the nominal margin of victory now, it should be no surprise that the major parties' primary targets for this year's presidential election are those on college campuses.
Tens of millions of dollars are being spent by political parties and non-profit organizations alike in an attempt to amass the youth vote. The Pew Charitable Trusts have given $9 million to the New Voters Project, a nonpartisan group that aims to register 265,000 18- to 24-year-olds in six swing states: Colorado, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Nevada, according to a Knight Ridder Tribune article. KRT also reported that the Young Voter Alliance has raised more than $1.3 million from Democrat, Independent and Green sources, and the College Republican National Committee has raised $5.5 million.
On Nov. 2, many McNeese students will be heading to the polls to cast their vote. The candidates are Republican, President George W. Bush; Democrat, John F. Kerry; Libertarian, Michael J. Badnarik and Independent, Ralph Nader, among others.
In less than six weeks, one of these four men will likely be the president of the United States of America. It should be remembered that the winner will be the primary key in making decisions about the economy, crime rate, abortion, gay rights, war, environment, taxes, gun control, jobs, health care, terrorism, illegal drugs and countless other issues. We are left with the decision of which candidate is more qualified for the position.
Senior English major Steven Brown's vote will be going to George W. Bush. "He is willing to not hide behind what's not popular," Brown said.