UW-Madison Students for John Edwards hosted Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Joe Wineke Thursday at Ingraham Hall, who discussed his endorsement of 2008 presidential hopeful John Edwards, the importance of the upcoming Iowa caucuses and the necessity of appealing to rural Wisconsin.

According to Wineke, the winner of the Iowa Caucus will build up momentum and may be able to carry that over and win the New Hampshire primary.

“[Edwards has] got to do really, really well in Iowa,” Wineke said. “People like the underdog.”

The way to win and make an impact in the Iowa caucuses, according to Wineke, is for Presidential candidates to talk directly with the rural communities in the different districts throughout Iowa. “The rural way of life means quality of life,” he said. “It’s about safety, and it’s knowing your neighbor, and trust and getting along with people.”

Travis Slattely, a UW-Madison senior from a rural Wisconsin community, said presidential candidates need to give people in rural communities a reason to vote by appealing to them about the same issues that concern urban areas of America.

“The people around there are no different … They’re worried about health care, they’re worried about the environment,” Slattely said. “[Candidates] really have to engage every rural voter.”

According to Peter Rickman, a UW-Madison graduate student, students are looking for a progressive leader that will give them leadership and give them a reason to get involved in politics.

“Voting is not enough,” Rickman said. “Students should get active so that they can put their progressive values to work … We have a responsibility as citizens and as moral human beings to be active about this.”

UW-Madison Students for Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have all traveled to Iowa this fall to speak with voters and possibly plan future trips.