His slogan of change and hope is everywhere, and with political pundits whispering about Hillary Clinton’s imminent resignation from the race, Barack Obama seems closer to the White House than ever.
As the Illinois Senator projects a youthful image, college students have been boosting his campaign – literally. Many Northwestern students have been assisting with the campaign at its Chicago headquarters, targeting both their peers and the general electorate to secure an edge over Clinton.
Obama intern Mike Schoengold enjoys watching his candidate of choice in action. “The way Obama interacts with the staff is wonderful, he’s so personable,” the Weinberg senior says. “Politicians shouldn’t have to pander, and Obama is proof of that.” For him, working on the campaign is all about the playful touches. “The Obama headquarters have a Google-type atmosphere,” he says. “I mean, Hillary probably doesn’t have a ping pong table in the middle of the office.”
With Facebook co-creator Chris Hughes helping, Obama’s campaign emphasizes interactive technology that “targets our age group,” says Weinberg sophomore and intern Chenault Taylor. “Obama has focused on unity instead of trivial, specific policies like Hillary, and that’s a big reason why he’s done so well.”
Besides targeting college students, the my.barackobama.com Web site relies on students like SESP sophomore Conrad Hendrickson to keep the networking-based online communication alive and effective. “I’m helping to ensure that we have the kind of discussion we want in the online community,” Hendrickson says. His tasks include monitoring blogs for inappropriate comments and surveying the online community’s issues and concerns about Obama.
Voter interaction is a key tactic on the Obama campaign. “In the Obama office, every single person, not just the lowly interns, is responsible for answering our national hotline phones,” Schoengold says. “You have your finger on the pulse of what people are thinking. It really fits with Obama’s philosophy.” Taylor interns in the field department and organizes volunteers to go door-to-door, and does her share of hitting the pavement. Last weekend she and another student knocked on more than 100 doors in an Indiana suburb to gear up for the state’s primary. “I like the voter contact,” Taylor says. “I feel like I can make a big impact.”
The campaign is still working toward securing the nomination at the Democratic convention held Aug. 25-28 in Denver. But camp Obama is all about the grand prize: 85 to 90 percent of the campaign is focused on the general election, Hendrickson says. “Hillary is an admirable woman and if she was the Democratic candidate, I’d vote for her,” Taylor says. “But now that Hillary isn’t as much of a concern, any negative undertones to the campaign are gone and I’m more inspired to be working for Obama than ever.”
