The Orbis

Young Americans, that coveted 18 to 25 demographic in marketing circles, are all but ignored by modern day politicos. Aside from the "Dean Machine," most campaigns are run by middle-age men or retirees from places like Buena Vista Village or Sunnyvale Assisted Living Community.

Political campaigns have never been especially appealing to young Americans, but that might be changing. Just walking around campus, I often see many stickers endorsing one politician or another. For every "Bush-Cheney '04" there seems to be a "Dean for America" sticker, and I'm sure a few pieces of Ralph Nader memorabilia will show up eventually. No longer do old party faithfuls and rich donors dominate campaigns.

The grassroots efforts of many young Americans are starting to have very real consequences, and the candidates know it.

Dubbed "Generation Dean," the Dean campaign boasts a group of more than 700 associations across the country, comprised of high school students, young professionals, and college students. They work tirelessly, campaigning door-to-door, staffing phone banks and attending campaign rallies to encourage voters that Dean is the right man for America.

While they may be a force to be reckoned with, Dean's isn't the only campaign to employ the energy of youthful voters ready to make a difference.

North Carolina Sen. John Edwards has a portion of his Web site dedicated to "Students 4 Edwards," where he puts forth his plan for helping young Americans attend college. His site, like most others, also has a feature allowing young voters to find each other and to meet up to campaign throughout the country.

Today's presidential candidates realize the potential power of energized teenagers and young professionals, and they are working around the clock to harness this raw energy to win the White House in November.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, there seems to be a sense among young voters that politics does, in fact, matter. More specifically, many young Americans who disagree with the war in Iraq and many of President Bush's policies have begun to realize just how important national and local elections are when the time comes to implement life or death policies.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am an ardent Republican, but for those who do not approve of this administration's policies, the 2004 election is a way to clean up shop and start all over. Just as the idealism of the 1960s and 1970s captivated a generation and propelled them to do what their hearts told them was right, today's young voters are mobilizing in droves to get out the vote and to get President Bush out of office.

We are many years removed from the trials and tribulations of the Civil Rights movement and the struggle for women's suffrage, but this generation is faced with its own cultural challenges, and many young Americans are proudly heeding the call and fighting the good fight.

If the 2000 election taught us anything, it was that every vote counts. This does not mean, however, that young Democrats should sit back and simply let him win in 2004. We all benefit from strong party politics, and while it is my personal hope that Bush wins in 2004, the contest simply won't mean as much if he doesn't have to face a strong Democratic candidate.

I believe very strongly in the marketplace of ideas, and we should all hope that the Democratic candidate, whoever he may be, will put forth new and innovative ideas so Americans can choose from two qualified candidates.

A weak Republican party hurts us all just as a weak Democratic party hurts us all, and with the help of America's bright-eyed and ambitious young citizens, this election will be one that sets the course of our nation for many years to come. It is the duty of every young Democrat to engage his fellow young Republican, just as it is the duty of the Democratic nominee to engage his Republican counterpart.

The marketplace of ideas has delivered us from segregation and discrimination, and it will again help us choose the person who will lead this great nation into the always-uncertain future.

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