Tanaka, Daniel
With election day less than two months away, Republican student groups are rallying for support of state and regional candidates, according to Jim Ceresnak, a junior in political science and director of Students for Pat McCrory.
McCrory is the Republican candidate running for governor and is currently mayor of Charlotte.
Ceresnak said the McCrory group’s primary goal is to get the candidate’s message across campus, but its members are also working to get every student registered to vote.
“For the past three weeks, Students for McCrory has had a tent set up in the brickyard,” Ceresnak said. “We’re bringing McCrory’s positive message to the students. He’s very devoted to the needs of college students. We also had a voter registration area set up.”
Ceresnak also said several students have not only shown interest in candidates of their own party, but candidates of other parties as well.
“We had a tailgate on Saturday for Pat McCrory,” Ceresnak said. “We had a great response from the students, both Republicans and Democrats. They were very interested in the positive message from McCrory. We love seeing this kind of response. Student’s have been really excited because it’s a new fresh look.”
Students for Elizabeth Dole, chaired by Ches McDowell, a freshman in political science, has been working with Students for McCrory in the Brickyard.
Dole is the incumbent Republican senator running for reelection.
McDowell said Students for Dole is working hard to plan events.
“We’re trying to work with the Wolf Pack Club and turn it into an alumni thing,” McDowell said. “We also want to make a huge tailgate for Dole at Homecoming and we’re trying to get Bob Dole to come and speak.”
Students for Dole started from within the College Republicans, he said.
“Students within College Republicans have been assigned to help out with the Dole committee,” McDowell said. “We’ve been making signs and made a bunch of phone calls and just trying to get people to support Dole.”
Students for McCrory and Students for Dole have both gotten strong responses from students, Ceresnak said.
“It’s very encouraging having Republicans and Democrats come up and ask us questions so that we can clear up any misconceptions,” he said. “We’ve had a great response. In just two weeks we’ve gotten close to 500 names on an e-mail list and we’ve had about 250 people register to vote.”
Students for McCrory has also been working with N.C. State Alumni Johnny Mac Alexander. Alexander is running for a seat in the North Carolina Senate.
“We had Johnny Mac Alexander out in the Brickyard shaking hands and giving pizza to students on Friday,” Ceresnak said. “He said he had a good time coming out and talking with the people and spreading his message.”
The student response to the Republican message has been very big, according to Ceresnak.
“I think people are ready for something new,” he said. “The Democratic message has been played out. I think people are ready to hear the other side. Young Republicans love Gov. Sarah Palin.”
Ceresnak also said students are paying more attention to the local candidates.
“I think people are understanding it’s their responsibility as American Citizens to learn about the local candidates as well as the national candidates,” he said. “The local candidates make a huge impact as well.”d