College Democrats, Republicans Help Out in Virginia, PA

Danielle Beck and her fellow College Republicans knocked on over 5,000 doors in the Scranton, PA area last week campaigning for Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain and congressional candidate Lou Barletta.
On Tuesday evening, Beck found herself calling Joe St. George and the College Democrats to congratulate them on the election of Barack Obama and the sweeping victory of congressional Democrats.

The College Democrats celebrated the election of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Tuesday night after spending the fall campaigning in key states, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The College Republicans were on the ground in Pennsylvania for several days to help Republican campaigns.

“It was a surreal experience,” said St. George. “All the College Democrats grabbed each other and were hugging. We just started crying. It will be something that we will treasure forever.” St. George bought victory cigars for everyone.

In an MSNBC.com article, College Republican John Byers spoke about the importance of campaigning specifically in Pennsylvania’s 11th district. “It‘s very important Catholic University singled out this district as a key one where there is an incumbent in for 24 years and we are fighting for Lou,” said Byers. “He asked us to come up here and that‘s why are out here this morning.“

Barletta lost in a close race to incumbent Paul Kanjorski, who won with 52 percent of the vote. “It was disappointing to work so hard for two candidates who lost. In the end, we have to stand behind the candidates we choose,” said Beck.

“The fact that these students from Catholic University chose my race to volunteer on gives me such hope,” said Barletta in the Times Leader, a northeastern Pennsylvania newspaper. “I’m grateful for their help and the help I received from all those volunteering.”

The CRs attended a rally for McCain on November 2, where he, his wife, Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania, and Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID- Conn.) were in attendance. “It was a really exciting rally, we got to stand on the risers behind McCain, it was an exciting opportunity,” said Beck.

The CDs made more than 2,000 phone calls from the Curley Court trailers in support of Obama during the last week before the election. Earlier in the fall, the administration deemed phone banking would be legal if conducted in private residences.

The CDs focused on the Virginia campaign, in conjunction with others CDs from Georgetown University, American University and George Washington University, during the final days prior to the election. More than 50 CDs spent the weekend in Springfield and Huntington, VA. The CDs knocked on a “ridiculous” amount of doors, according to Joe St. George, chairman of the College Democrats.

The CDs celebrated the Democrats’ win at the Hilton Hotel in Tysons Corner with the Virginia Democratic Party. The CDs had the chance to speak with alumnus Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, at the event.

CDs stood outside polling locations on Election Day with signs to show support for Obama. Others made sure voters who arrived at the polls right before closing time were able to vote.

Students were also individually active in campaigns during the election season.

Senior J. Peter Donald took the semester off to work for the McCain campaign. Donald worked as a member of the advance team, which included the duties of handling the logistics and production of events. In an article published by his high school, Donald said, “We are responsible for all the magic that happens on the road.”

St. George spent his fall balancing school work, with interning for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “It has been an incredible semester to work for the D-triple-C,” St. George said.

St. George’s responsibility included posting all ads released by the Democratic Party onto YouTube. Prior to the election, the highlight of his internship was getting to sit in on a staff meeting where Speaker Nancy Pelosi was present. “It was cool to not see the ‘camera’ Pelosi, but the real Pelosi,” said St. George. “I had her sign a book for my mom.”

St. George will still be working, although the Congressional election is over. “It doesn’t really stop quite yet,” said St. George. Congressional races in Louisiana had to be postponed until December because an earlier hurricane had interfered with primary elections in the 4th Congressional district of Louisiana.

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