NEWARK — Kit Toller '08 stood in busy Penn Station here holding a decaying, rain-soaked Kerry/Edwards campaign sign he had just been using as a makeshift umbrella.
"Next time, I'll bring a rain jacket," he said.
Toller and several other students traveled through a torrential downpour to Newark on Tuesday to hear Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards speak at a rally before hundreds of supporters.
Recent polls showing a tighter race than had been expected in New Jersey, a traditionally "blue" — Democratic-leaning — state, gave particular political importance to Edwards' visit. Bush and Kerry are currently in a dead heat.
But most of the New Jersey officials who spoke — including Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Bonnie Watson-Coleman and Newark Mayor Sharp James — emphasized the state's tendency to vote Democratic come Election Day.
Students who attended the function were impressed by the enthusiastic and diverse crowd. "They were a very dynamic group, a lot of positive energy," Catherine Malina '05 said. "There were people there from union groups, parents with kids, old guys with veteran signs."
The students also identified the war on terror and national security concerns as the most important campaign issue for young voters.
Some stressed fears of a future military draft as the conflict in the Middle East continues.
"A lot of my friends are in Iraq right now," added Matt Steel, a junior at Seton Hall University.
Brian O'Malley, a sophomore at Seton Hall, said he had concerns about education and tuition costs.
"It's getting more and more expensive to go to college," he explained. "And we're not getting too much help from the government."
Edwards' speech addressed most of these concerns and a number of others.
He reiterated the main points of the Kerry campaign, highlighting health care, the economy, national security and foreign policy.
Mike Hidalgo '08 was especially impressed by Edwards' plans for making college more affordable. "I liked what he said about education — his plan that will pay for college for all four years if [students] give two years of [public] service," he said.
Toller said Edwards responded well to attacks that Kerry would not be able to protect the country from attack.
"I thought he was very convincing," he said.
Despite the rain and the over two-hour delay, students reacted quite positively to both the rally and Edwards' remarks.
"My hopes were wavering a little after the second or third hour of standing, but I really enjoyed it," Tim Nunan '08 said.
Malina agreed, "They wanted people to get really energized . . . and I think they were successful."
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