Obama Urges Students to Caucus

[BeyondGeography]

GRINNELL, Iowa (AP) — Despite criticism from a few rivals, Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday kept pressing out-of-state students attending college in Iowa to return over their holiday break and vote in the Democratic caucus on Jan. 3.

"Don't listen to them, don't listen to them," he said of the critics. "Don't let somebody tell you that you are not part of this process — because your future is at stake, and America's future is at stake."

Speaking at a concert hall packed with students at Grinnell College, he said students who attend school in the state have established residency by doing so and are able to take part in the caucuses. The Illinois senator is polling strongly among young people in Iowa and could have much to gain in the close presidential nomination race from coeds willing to cut short their holiday and take part in the caucus.

Democratic rivals are divided over whether Obama is playing by the spirit of the rules. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chris Dodd have criticized the effort, with Dodd saying, "That may be the way politics is played in Chicago, but not in Iowa." Clinton said she's encouraging people who live and pay taxes in Iowa to show up. But John Edwards said the rules are "fairly liberal" when it comes to out-of-state students caucusing.

Obama told the students in Grinnell that they have a historic opportunity to pick the next president because it could take as few as 150,000 people to determine the caucus winner. "In this election, the winner of the Iowa caucus has got a huge head start in terms of being the Democratic nominee," he said. "I don't think there should be any doubt that the Democratic nominee is going to win the presidency."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hpJ8fwRuyVAw45Jy6lurOyUrb_OwD8TB142G0

[R_M]

1. Iowa residents only.

Obama is cheating by having out of state people come to the caucus.

[eyesroll]

2. Oy. We've been through this. Students can vote at school.

They've had that right for a long time.

Just because they usually go elsewhere for winter break doesn't mean they lose their right to vote at school.

[TeamJordan23]

3. If you live in Iowa 9 months out of the year; you are allowed to caucus. nm

[Colobo]

5. They are desperate because they are realizing

Obama is about to win Iowa.

[CTLawGuy]

4. apparently the state of Iowa considers them residents

is the state of Iowa wrong?

[sandnsea]

6. Students can vote where they go to school

That's the law in nearly every state. The only ones cheating are those who are lying about it.

[ClarkUSA]

7. Iowa's Secretary of State disagrees with you

A number of commentators are saying that Yepsen, Clinton and Dodd's comments effectively amount to a promotion of voter disenfranchisement. In fact, Iowa, like most states, does give out-of-state students the right to participate in the caucuses and vote. Iowa also recently changed its election laws to allow voter registration on caucus night--another measure that helps out-of-state students.

Obama's not the only one reminding the kids to vote. Most candidates' websites have a section for students encouraging them to register, and both Obama and Edwards have a page specific to Iowa. The tips listed under "Iowa students for Obama" –reminding students of the date and registration requirements--are a bit more explicit than "Young Iowans for Edwards" simple "register to vote," but they're hardly nefarious. The information is no different from that put forth by Rock the Caucus, an initiative sponsored by Iowa's Secretary of State.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?pid=256359

[Pirate Smile]

8. Oh, Lord. Educate yourself.

[Cameron27]

9. It's true that it's not illegal for students to caucus in Iowa, but

this statement: "Don't let somebody tell you that you are not part of this process — because your future is at stake, and America's future is at stake." is a little over the top. They can always register and vote in their home state no?

[CTLawGuy]

12. not at all

they are essentially being told they can't participate in a place they are legally allowed to. And they are being told so for the political gain of certain nameless candidates.

[Cameron27]

14. Of course it's over the top,

they can still vote in their home state if they can't make it back to caucus in Iowa.

[CTLawGuy]

17. why should they be barred from the Iowa caucus?

if they are legally allowed to vote in more than one place, why shouldn't they CHOOSE where to vote?

[killbotfactory]

10. How dare he do something completely legitimate that might help him.

Outrageous!

[AX10]

11. I'm with Dodd on this one.

[CTLawGuy]

13. I'm with

the Iowa Secy of State, the Iowa legislature and what is right and moral, on this one...

[Cameron27]

15. What is legal

not what is moral.

[CTLawGuy]

16. yeah

damn kids, why the hell should they vote? they're lazy, right Hillary????

[Cameron27]

18. They can vote legally in Iowa,

they can also vote in their home state. It will all come down to numbers. If thousands of students cross into Iowa from Illinois, it may cause a backlash with resident Iowans regardless of what Dodd, Clinton or Obama say.

[CTLawGuy]

19. so be it

I'm annoyed that Democrats are trying to prevent people from voting.

[Cameron27]

21. Honestly..

I can see both sides of this argument, so I'll just let the Iowa voters decide who's right.

[CTLawGuy]

22. they did

through their elected representatives. and they decided students are Iowans and have the right to vote.

[Cameron27]

23. I don't think they bargained for thousands being bused in

for one candidate though. Like I said, either they won't care or Obama will get a backlash.

[CTLawGuy]

24. what does it matter

personally I think they won't care unless they support Hillary already. It is normal for candidates to provide rides to the polls. It makes even more sense in this case because no absentee voting is possible in the Iowa Caucus.

[AtomicKitten]

20. He's GOTV.

That's what we as a party are SUPPOSED to do. There is nothing wrong with exercising the right to vote. This particular circumstance is perfectly legal and the norm.

Beware of ANYONE trying to suppress the vote.