Election 2008
(2008-09-22)
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At Spelman College's Manly Student Center thick bass from hip-hop music shifts the air. And between various groups' displays and tables, students dance.
But one particular table seems to stop all that. It's where Sudria Twyman sits.
"We're Young Democrats of America. We're basically registering anyone who is not registered to vote."
Flanked by Obama '08 fliers, she thrusts towards students voter registration cards and ink pens. And the students eagerly oblige.
"Just everybody wants to come out and support and be involved in the next election. We're getting overwhelming response from freshman as well as returning students."
From January to August ... the Secretary of State says the number of registered voters in Georgia jumped 10 percent to 4-point-eight million. But the same thing happens each presidential election year, and has in Georgia since the 1960s.
But there is something different here. Aside from just registering students to vote Spelman's Young Democrats are encouraging students to move their votes.
"This is really important to me. I'm register ed here in GA even though I'm from MD, because MD is a completely blue state. I'm trying to turn GA blue."
Many students here want to turn traditionally Republican Red' Georgia to Obama Blue Democrat. Registering to vote in Georgia instead of their home states is a calculated move, a move Illinois resident Brittani Noland doesn't hesitate to make.
"I feel if I vote here in GA I can help the state of GA out more."
Obama faces a tough fight in Georgia. There's evidence his campaign understands that now better than ever. In recent weeks, he's pulled ads from Georgia's airwaves and moved paid personnel to other states.
But if Obama's campaign has given up on Georgia, these students haven't given up on Obama.
"I'm really confident, especially if we get out and do stuff like this in the community. I'm really confident he'll be able to get that this year."
David Kriby sees it differently.
"Throughout history, Republicans are more likely to go to the polls on Election Day."
As co-chair of Georgia's College Republicans, he applauds efforts to get more people registered. But he questions how much of an influence those new registrations will have.
"Every campaign for decades has said that they want to turn out voters who normally don't vote. Barack Obama is saying the same thing. We'll see if he's actually successful in being able to do that. I don't' think he will be."
Clark-Atlanta University Political Science professor Dr. William Boone agrees that new registrations don't always translate to votes. Despite that Boone believes that Obama will turn out new voters.
"What will get folk out this time is they feel they have something to vote for the first time in their life times, or the last time for some, so indeed they may vote. That is something we cannot measure."
Whether new enthusiasm will translate to an Obama victory in Georgia is unclear.
While Georgia's increase in newly- registered voters as a percentage-- is similar to previous years the demographics are different. In 2004 new registrations favored whites. This time, Blacks and other minorities account for the biggest gains. And for Obama supporters, that keeps his chances relevant.
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