GLEN ELLYN — Northwestern students waved posters and pompoms from the front row of a rally Thursday as Republican presidential candidate and Texas Gov. George W. Bush told the crowd of about 25,000 that he could win Illinois.
Nearly 40 NU students joined about 200 College Republicans from several universities, receiving special placement and instructions to drown out Democratic supporters and rally the crowd at the College of DuPage.
The contingent of students and the rally’s location were part of an ongoing effort to energize students and encourage them to vote Republican, said Pat Daly, the Bush-Cheney campaign’s youth director for upstate Illinois.
At Thursday’s two-and-a-half-hour rally, Bush joined running mate Dick Cheney, Illinois Gov. George Ryan and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka in emphasizing the differences between him and Vice President Al Gore. He also urged the crowd to vote on Tuesday.
Bush and Cheney reiterated the main themes of their campaign: boosting military spending, giving local communities control of public schools and fixing Medicare. Bush also made a direct appeal to younger voters, at one point saying, “I love you” to the group of screaming college students behind him.
The governor touted the benefits of his Social Security plan and said the plan would give young professionals more control over their future.
“Younger workers understand that we had better think differently if we’re going to have a Social Security system tomorrow,” he said. “Ours is the vision that trusts younger workers to manage their assets.”
He also pledged to break from the scandals of the Clinton administration and to restore integrity to the White House. As Bush spoke, audience members held up signs reading “Liars disbarred” and “Integrity counts.”
“We need a new leader in Washington, D.C.,” Bush said. “Our message on November 7 will be loud and clear: You’ve had your chance, you have not led. We will.”
Bush’s remarks followed an upbeat rally that often pandered to the younger crowd. One student held up a sign reading “Hispanic punk college students for Bush.”
Before Bush’s appearance, event organizers told anti-Gore jokes. At one point, they said Thursday’s Democratic rally in Daley Plaza comprised “3,000 Democrats standing, and Al Gore lying.” The Texas governor exited the stage to Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”
Several speakers at the rally emphasized the unusually close presidential race and encouraged Illinois residents to vote. Although most polls show the Democrats ahead, the race for Illinois’ 22 electoral votes remains tight.
“We’re in this thing,” Ryan said, encouraging those present to cast ballots along party lines. “We’re going to win it because of your hard work and your efforts.”
Bush also expressed optimism that the Republicans would win the state.
“Here we are in the great state of Illinois, a state the pundits say we don’t have much of a chance (in),” Bush said. “We’re going to confound the pundits. Illinois is Bush-Cheney country.”
Ditka, who received the afternoon’s loudest cheers, praised the governor and said the Clinton administration scandals have tainted Gore.
“That’s what Al Gore is — he’s a whiner,” Ditka said. “He’s the little kid on the block who, when things didn’t go his way, goes home.”
After the rally, NU Republicans pushed through the crowd to shake hands with the candidates. Many said the rally reinforced their decision to vote for Bush.
“I loved it,” said Speech freshman Chelsea Hurlburt. “(Bush) didn’t have a stick up his butt like Gore.”
McCormick freshman Nick Disabato said he skipped his calculus and engineering analysis classes to attend the rally but that he learned more from Bush than he could have in class.
“It was definitely worth it,” said Disabato, a College Republicans member. “You have to take these chances when they come along.”
