The 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign recently launched a grassroots action Web site aimed at young Republican students of America. The goal of the site is to invite supporters to join President Bush's campaign and spread his message.
According to the site, it will help recruit new members, provide contact information, list meeting times for Bush-Cheney support groups and has a tournament named \March to Victory,"" in which students from 38 states participate. The tournament models itself after the NCAA basketball tournament to encourage volunteer recruitment.
Sharon Castillo, a Bush-Cheney '04 spokesperson, said ""students have embraced the policies of President Bush because they recognize he cares deeply about their concerns. We have a very aggressive grassroots organization in place and we want to make sure young voters play an integral role in that grassroots organization.""
Castillo also said two of the first 10 national grassroots initiatives launched by the Bush-Cheney campaign have targeted young voters, a tribute to the commitment the campaign has to engage young voters in the political process of the country.
""The Web site helps each individual students for Bush organization across the country coordinate with each other,"" said Matt Seaholm, a UW-Madison junior and member of Students for Bush at UW-Madison. ""That's one of the best things I've noticed about it.""
Seaholm added the Web site makes sense because it is a good first step for students to be educated on what the Bush-Cheney campaign is doing for students.
""There is a lot of dormant political conservatism in college campuses throughout the country, and this Web site is one of the best ways to awaken that,"" said Frank Hennick, co-chair of Students for Bush and a UW-Madison sophomore.
Hennick said the Web site is very user friendly and speaks to this generation of students because it appeals to the computer and Internet savvy.
Seaholm and Hennick said they expect the Web site to gain momentum at UW-Madison after their kick-off meeting next week, which will combine Republican students as well as seasoned Republicans, but said the Web site does not provide a distinct advantage for Bush over Democratic candidate John Kerry.
""Especially on this campus it's going to be tough for this Web site to make that big of an impact,"" Seaholm said.
