A closer look: Campus political groups prepare for elections, look to pique student interest

As the presidential election in November approaches, political
student groups are gearing up for their campaigns on campus in the
coming months, looking to elevate student interest in hopes that
students will impact the voting polls in the fall.

Bruin Republicans, who will seek the re-election of the
Bush-Cheney ticket in November, are working on expanding their
presence on campus. Presently, Bruin Republicans are in the
planning stages of their Bush campaign strategies. 

After Super Tuesday’s events, they expect to elevate their
promotional activity for Bush’s re-election. 

“We plan on increasing our tabling and handing out
campaign materials,” said Matthew Knee, a member of Bruin
Republicans. 

“We want to draw attention to things we think are
important to the electorate,” Knee added, citing what he
perceived as weaknesses in the liberal voting record on national
security issues of the Democratic front-runner John Kerry.

In response to the concerns of graduating students who need jobs
in a period of economic uncertainty, Knee said he wanted
“people to understand that the president has limited control
over the workforce.”

Bruin Republicans President Jonathan Cayton expressed his
confidence in Bush’s reelection. Clayton said regardless of
who the Democratic candidate ends up being, “we do not
perceive him as a threat.”

Closely affiliated with Bruin Republicans is the UCLA chapter of
California Students for Bush, a new and unofficial student group on
campus.

Presently, Students for Bush is awaiting an overdue shipment of
campaign materials from the state-wide organization before they
launch any major campaigning events. Bruin Republicans will
also utilize these official campaigning resources. 

Jennifer Otter, president of Students for Bush and secretary of
Bruin Republicans, said her group would take an active
approach.

“Everyone has shown great teamwork and dedication so
I’m very optimistic about the months to come,” she
said.

Otter plans to provide voter registration forms on Bruin Walk,
pass out Republican newsletters and have sign-ups for volunteer
opportunities with Students for Bush.

She also said she wants to keep the campaign focused on what she
sees as Bush’s positive attributes.

Jeremy Evans, another member of both Bruin Republicans and
Students for Bush, agreed with taking such an approach.

“A negative campaign isn’t going to go so well with
middle-of-the-road voters,” he said.

Otter and Evans are currently planning correspondence with a
variety of student demographics around campus, such as students
involved in Greek life and religious organizations.

Evans, a member of a fraternity and a local church, sees a
potential for the conservative constituencies within these groups
to register to vote Republican. 

Conversely, the Bruin Democrats will be working to sustain the
energy from the primaries, and to build momentum by putting their
energy into efforts similar to the Bruin Republicans, including
rallies, debate-watching parties and policy forums. They also hope
to bring the official Democratic runner in a rally on the UCLA
campus.

Bruin Democrats do not endorse a candidate until a winner is
officially announced after the Democratic National Convention.

Until that occurs in July, they will work to present a unified
front, working with all the factions of Democratic support, such as
Bruins for Edwards and Bruins for Kerry. 

Bruin Democrats will employ campaign issues they believe will
resonate with members of the UCLA community, and which they see
Bush as having weaknesses in, such as the environment and the
economy.

“If the kind of economic development and war in Iraq
continues the way it’s been going, I don’t think Bush
will be re-elected,” said Matthew Dababneh, a fourth-year
political science and public policy student. 

All Democratic student groups will ultimately use campaign
issues, such as the economy and foreign policy, which are
particularly salient for the upcoming election, to garner students
into becoming politically proactive.