The new Republican Party offices on Blacksburg's Main Street were buzzing with activity. Volunteers manned phones, several people waited in line to sign registration and volunteer forms, a dwindling supply of McCain/Palin '08 yard signs and bumper stickers sat below a sign that politely offered them free, but suggested a small donation.
Crowder sat on a folding chair in front of a volunteer scheduling calendar penciled several times over with names, times and assignments.
"This office belongs to the county party, so I don't work here full-time," Crowder said, "We're distributing signs and bumper stickers now, but we're focusing on the college-age students, trying to get them as involved as possible, so we're volunteering at different local events, there's door knocking and we're also installing these 4'x8' signs that say 'McCain Country'."
Crowder said the College Republicans were not directly involved in any fund raising, but were mostly trying to work on voter awareness.
"We're just calling local voters, touching base with them. If they have fairs in the area, we go out those," Crowder said. "The idea behind the door knocking and such is to let people know why community members should support and vote for Sen. McCain, to make sure people are registered and make sure they know where their polling place is."
Crowder said the College Republicans were also involved in some nonpolitical volunteer work on campus.
"Recently the College Republicans did a memorial for Sept. 11 on the campus, which was a nonpolitical event," Crowder said, "We set out a flag for every victim that perished in the attacks on the towers and elsewhere."
Crowder said he hopes there will also be some further cooperative efforts with Democrats.
"The political science club is looking at organizing some debates once we get into October, but I don't have anything specific yet," Crowder said.
While it's generally held that 2008 is going to be a tough year for Republicans, with a tough economy, an unpopular war and polls showing a majority of the public feel the country is going the wrong way, Crowder said he feels sanguine about Republicans' prospects in the upcoming election.
"I think the polls reflect just the opposite. I think that, particularly in this area, Southwest Virginia is an area that gets it. It's consistently voted for, this has been a red voting area and we see no reason why that should change," Crowder said, "We're absolutely feeling confident about the upcoming elections. You don't want to get overconfident; we have to redouble our efforts."
Continue Reading: « Previous12
Leave a comment 1 Comment Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
Hey guys I do appreciate you in doing everything possible to give Virginia to McCain and Palin. As a Tech alumni, I am proud of all of you. Also as a black man, I have never been this scare in my life about the possibility that Obama may become the President. I do not hate him as the rest of the lazy minded librals have hated everything that my adopted nation America stood for. It is unbelievable. Obama is dangerous. This guy will sell America to the rest of the world. That is why they loved him all over America and the world. Obama is corrupt, phony and a wolf in sheep's skin. I prayed that all the Liberals will be greatly disappointed. Keep up the good work. By the way, Please tell those Hokie boys good job last week in Nebraska.
Reply to this Top