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“Get fired up and ready,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL-Minn., told about 60 students and faculty members at Winona State University’s student union.
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL-Minn., right, talks with Winona State University students Candace Ewers, left, Lauren Hawkinson, center, and Jessica Reinhart after a rally Friday for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., at WSU in Winona. Klobuchar and Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, told more than 50 students and residents why Obama should be the next president. (Fred Schulze/Winona Daily News) |
Klobuchar was speaking to many first-time voters who will cast ballots in a state expected to have a tight race between Obama and Republican nominee John McCain.
Klobuchar mentioned McCain’s acceptance speech, saying that he was a hero whom she highly respected, but he didn’t speak about how he was going to be different from President Bush.
Most of the rally, however, was devoted to Obama.
Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, said if Obama wins, he’ll continue to provide funding for local problems, including bridge repairs, flood assistance and home foreclosures.
Pelowski expects a high voter turnout for the November election because of Obama’s popularity with students.
“There’s a lot of youth interest this election, especially for Obama,” he said.
Last election, some polling places ran out of ballots. Pelowski doesn’t expect that problem this year because officials already are anticipating a high turnout.
Klobuchar agreed Obama connects with young voters.
“He is a long-term thinker, and young people understand those kinds of thinkers,” Klobuchar said. “Young people are going to war, are in debt from student loans, and he feels for that.”
Jack Lineham, 18, is a political science major and new member of WSU’s College Democrats. He hopes more voters between 18 and 25 boost the turnout.
“Lots of times, politics affects us more than older people — the way we’re affected with going to war, student loans and higher tuition,” Lineham said.
