Student Dems, GOP get out the vote at Midd

Author: Anthony Adragna

With this year's Congressional elections less than a week away, both Democrats and Republicans on the College's campus have ramped up their efforts to turn out voters for their favored candidates. With the Senate and Governor's races in Vermont all but decided, efforts on both sides have focused on the more competitive House race between Democrat Peter Welch and Republican Martha Rainville.

Professor of Political Science Eric Davis said that although most politically-inclined students at the College spent the summer working on other campaigns in their home states, some have turned their attention to Vermont's politics upon returning to campus.

"A few students are participating in the Vermont campaigns," Davis said, "but more student involvement has been evident in nationwide voter registration drives, students working on home-state campaigns as interns in the summer and 'local-global' issues than in the Vermont campaigns."

Antoinette Rangel '09, president of the Middlebury Democrats, said that a small group of students have worked for the Democratic candidates since they returned to campus. "The group contacted all the Democrats in Vermont running for office to see what we could do for them," she said. "We are filling phone banks, going out to neighborhoods to canvas and attending fundraisers. We held a global warming rally for Peter Welch and we sponsored a student group for [Senate candidate] Bernie Sanders on campus. We are trying to get involved in all areas, from the little things like hanging signs on our doors, wearing pins or putting bumper-stickers on our cars."

College Republicans have also carried out their own voter mobilization efforts, and will continue these efforts as Nov. 7 draws nearer. Students will travel to Rutland later this week to assist Rainville and GOP Senate candidate Rich Tarrant, and will provide support at polling places throughout the state on the day of the election.

"Thus far the College Republicans have provided countless hours of energy toward assisting Republican candidates state-wide in the hope that we could make a difference in the race," said Stefan Claypool '09, president of College Republicans.

Welch Communications Director Andrew Savage '04, one of several Middlebury alumni working on the Democrat's campaign, said he believes students at the College have played an important role in the race.

"Middlebury students and the College community have always played an active role in Vermont's political campaigns," Savage said. "We have had Middlebury students on several occasions participate in press conferences with Peter and provide a voice for his positions. We also hope to have grassroots field and get-out-the-vote help leading up to Election Day."

Savage said students play an important role in grassroots efforts, such as phone banks and door-to-door canvassing, that can make a difference in close races.

"Political campaigns are only successful with significant grassroots support and college students provide some of the best help in this effort," Savage said.

Despite the national attention that has been paid to the comparatively close Welch-Rainville race, Davis said he is now confident in predicting the outcome of all three statewide elections.

"In Vermont, winners will be Sanders for Senate, Welch for House and [incumbent Republican Jim] Douglas for Governor," Davis said. "Nationally, Democrats should pick up 20 to 25 seats, enough to win control of the House. Republicans should hold on to the Senate by a narrow margin."

Rangel said she is similarly optimistic about this year's campaigns.

"I feel great," she said. "I think that especially in Vermont we have very strong candidates. I feel confident that Sanders will win and that Welch will also enjoy victory because of his arduous campaigning."

Though confident heading into the race, members of the Welch campaign also still want all the help they can find.

"[I feel] very good, but we need the help of every student, every staff and faculty member to assure we are successful," Savage said."

Rangel said she views the election as important for the health of the nation. "We want as many Democratic seats in our government as possible, especially Vermont Democrats which have been known to be very strong advocates for education, the environment and social programs," she said.