Wisconsin's primary has been moved up to Feb. 17, making its outcome more important in the candidate selection process than it has been in decades.??Six caucuses and eight other primaries precede it, but of those 14, the only ones that matter are Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire. As the Democratic heart of Wisconsin, the turnout and election results from within Madison and its environs could be the deciding factor in the 2004 race. Whether it will be to confirm a front-runner, eliminate a contender or bring forth a new one is where the surprise comes in.
The line snaked around three times as the crowd waited to see presidential candidate Howard Dean speak on Sunday afternoon. True believers waited with cans of food for the Tyson strike while the curious found themselves surrounded by supporters, Republicans and Socialists. All were trying to spread their message, from slick signs passed out by the rally organizers that said \Generation Dean"" to a hand-marked piece of posterboard marched up and down the curb that declared. ""Beware Students, Democrats Lie.""
Unsurprisingly, President Bush supporters were in the minority, a the beginning of a trend one can only hope continues on both the local and national level.
Dean's rally is visible proof of the importance of the state of Wisconsin, the city of Madison and the college students who swarm the isthmus. As one of several grassroots candidates who found much of their initial interest and support over the Internet, with supporters using such sites as Meetup.com to kick-start the campaign, Dean is well aware of the value of ""the people."" As a progressive, historically political city and campus, gaining support here could be key for any Democrat hoping to gain the nomination. Campaigns are already setting up shop, both in the city and within the student body, and are actively looking for recruits for their causes.
Beyond Dean, other hopefuls like Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. and Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. have made at least one appearance in the state and more will follow. Wesley Clark, the newest contender to enter the race, has yet to appear in person, but his buttons were already on student bags the day his candidacy was officially announced. With more than 40,000 students attending the university, the potential impact is astounding. Given the small numbers that tend to mark turnout in primary elections, candidates with the right message could find themselves surging forward... if they can mobilize that base.
Even here, however, that is a hard task to contemplate. There is a disturbing apathy among many of the young, both nationwide and locally. They are statistically less likely to exercise their right to vote than their parents or grandparents, making them less relevant to campaigns than they should be. More students need to become informed, to be passionate and to volunteer in politics, especially now. The issues involved are too important, the future direction of the United States too dependent on the outcome of the next election. Bush and his administration have overseen the downswing of a once healthy economy at home and implemented an aggressive foreign policy that has deeply wounded U.S. credibility with the outside world. Finding a viable Democratic candidate to face him in November 2004 is up to the electorate. The young can leave an incredible imprint on the outcome if they undertake the responsibility.
Throughout the primary process, there will be fragmentation as the candidates battle it out for the votes of the left. The Democratic field is full, and while Dean and Clark are widely considered the current front-runners, there is no guarantee they will still be ranked there as 2004 begins. Whoever emerges from the primary process needs to be strong enough to take on and take down the current administration.
Only through intense scrutiny, debate and competition will the electorate find that candidate. The students on this campus must be a part of it, and the next few months will see more fliers, chalkings and rallies,as the potentials compete for the student vote. Hopefully the numbers of liberal volunteers and supporters will balloon proportionally as the primary date draws closer.
It is time for the Left to mobilize rather than fragment. If the true goal of the 2004 elections is to rid the White House of President George W. Bush, then the push must begin now. This state and this campus have the chance to have an impact. It must not be wasted.
opinion@wisc.edu.
