People, what the Obama campaign is doing is something that is well known to the politically active college student. I don't understand why everyone is so up in arms about it. Also you are allowed to vote at 17 if you will be 18 by the general election...this also applies in other places. I don't think Iowans are aware of that...but they can bring money to your state pay taxes on their purchases but not caucus...what's really going on Iowa?

So the Politics of Hope have become the Politics of Deception??

And of course he also won't mind their going home to Michigan, or California, where they're already registered, to vote in those primaries as well.  He'll get two bangs for one buck.  That's called corrupt, where I come from, from I'm sure he'll find a high-minded sounding way to excuse it.  He's slick, that one.

Folks,

Here is a good ana;ysis regarding Hillary's attack dog.

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=2ebeb193-db93-4a7c-99e2-7ef2e7b9b8c8

I find nothing wrong with Obama's push and in fact encourage him to continue doing it. If the chief political reporter from the Des Moines paper can't see that young people voting is a GOOD thing, he should be relieved of his duties because he fails to understand what democracy and the right and power of the ballot really mean.
Mike K, Denver (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 5:09 PM)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I hope that reporter keeps his eyes open.  We don't want drugs and alcohol served to these kids before the caucus begins.  Better keep Obama away from the party kids, who knows what will happen.

you people are totally crazy how are you going to get mad at obama for doing something totally legal. I be if hillary said it you wouldn't have nothing to say.

Anyone But Obama: '...obama a man who sdupposedly is there to "inspire" young people to hope and character is trying to get the OUT OF STATE college students to come back to Iowa to caucus to throw the vote in his favor....WHAT!!...'


It's typical of the Clinton campaign to accuse others of doing what they're doing.

Think Team Hillary isn't trying to 'pack' the caucus like they packed the Las Vegas debate ?

Anybody, you're just another Clinton campaign worker posing as an independent blogger.
We already know about Mark Penn's 'astro turf' or phoney grass roots.

Nice try though.... 'I was gonna vote for Obama untils this outrage convnced me that Hillary is the messiah'.....
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah....
Honest Hillary and Norman Hsu
Honest Hillary and Peter Paul
Honest Hillary and the 'girls from UNF' (sic)
(who post as the girls from UNC ?!?)

Slick Hillie is desperate !!
Little Miss Inevitable has been transformed into Battle Axe Hillary
IT'S OVER !!! The Fat Lady is singing !!!

Are students suddenly not citizens? What does an Iowa student from another state care about the elections in a place where he/she *maybe* lives three months out of the year? Suggesting these students are fake Iowans is repellent, and I'm glad Obama has the "politically dumb" balls to stand up for their civil rights.

Bee: '...I think we should advocate for Lincoln-Douglas kind of debate between Obama and Hillary Clinton. No 30 seconds sound bite but real debate on the issues...'

Agreed !!
But, let's restrict this to honest politicians.....

An Obama = Edwards - Bidne debate !!
That would be enlightening and insigntful

Let Hillary join the Republican-lite debates !!

'Yepsen is wrong on this. Out of state students in Iowa VOTE in Iowa because they LIVE in Iowa 9 months out of the year.'


er, if there home state is not Iowa, do they get to vote twice?
are college students that "special"?
Do their parents get to claim them as a deduction if they are living in another state?
do they get instate tution?
do they get special rights cause obama is special?

how about one vote , one person, one residence?
how about making sure they don't vote in their home state and iowa?

Whoever posted the nonsense about high school students from Illinois participating in the causcus, that's a flat out lie. Non-resident college students can vote in the county/district where they go to school (e.g., Johnston County (U of I) and Ames (ISU)).  Since a high school student, can't establish that they go to school in Iowa, they wouldn't be allowed to participate.  

And if you don't trust me, at least trust the Iowa Secretary of State.

http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/VoterInformation/CollegeStudents.html#3

I think it's great that Obama is encouraging students to participate!  A lot of us feel as though we are looked down on and scoffed at by "adults" in the working world just because we happen to be in university or in our last year of high school, it's nice to know that Obama respects us, values our opinions, and takes us seriously enough to encourage us to be there.

jeez, people - it's just the Iowa caucus. Save the real teeth nashing for the primaries, at least.

A lot of people on this blog are completely missing the point. Out of state students who do not live in Iowa year round and TYPICALLY DO NOT participate in the caucus (because they tend to vote in their home state primaries) are being told it's okay. Legally it's fine. This is a problem in as much that Iowan's DON'T like this (case in point is Yepsen's comments). So, Barack will probably get more votes from this, but if you don't think supporters of Edwards and Hillary will be geeked by this, you're wrong. More likely than not, folks who favored Edwards and/or Hillary but who were probably not going to caucus (for a variety of reasons....maybe they just didn't care enough) are NOW going to caucus. Obama might get more votes from these students, but his balance might be negative after Iowan's get pissed off. Politically, is a bit of a poor strategy. Even if he has a positive balance and wins, all the Clinton campaign (and Edwards campaign) needs to do is say that Obama didn't win Iowa with Iowan's (although I doubt Edwards will since he seems to be working with Obama the best he can to set up the VP or AG job). You honestly think Barack will get the famous bounce into New Hampshire?? Yepsen's right, Barack didn't need to do this. He already has momentum. It's just an odd move.

Hertbert NH:

I am a college student originally from out of state who goes to school in New Hampshire. I live in NH. Why can't I vote in NH?

To boot, I know many Hillary supporters who are originally from out of state that will be voting in NH, as well as Edwards supporters, Richardson supporters, Giuliani supporters, etc.

You should check your facts too: The New Hampshire legislature passed a number of bills THIS YEAR that reaffirmed student voting rights in New Hampshire, making the law even more clear that students have the right to vote in NH.

Think about it this way: After years of living in New Hampshire, I consider it my home. I spend at least 10 months out of the year here, usually more. I am simply in a unique position because, as a college student, I live in a dorm. Are you suggesting that someone who just moved to NH, but lives in a house, has more of a right to vote than I do?

Unfortunately, you seem to think that students are second class voters who don't deserve the same chance to vote (and not just in the primary, but state and local elections) simply because we live in dorms instead of houses. I'm starting to think Obama is right to cast this as a civil rights issue.

What people are not saying here is why the heck does Iowa get to decide who the candidates are anyway?
Do we all really think that Iowa is an accurate cross-section of the population?
There's not even one large population city in either Iowa or New Hampshire, which means there is no representation of urban population whatsoever.
Why should Iowa and NH be the deciders?  Why not, say, Georgia?  or Washington?

These undergraduate students are living in IOWA for years. They are driving their car with an IA driving license. A simple question people should ask themselves. If the caucus was held 15 days earlier or later when the colleges or universities are open, would these students participate in IA caucus? The answer is YES. When the date was set on 3rd January, experts like Yepsen were talking about how Obama will suffer from the votes of college students, if he can keep them somehow in IA during break or if college students are committed enough in supporting Obama that they will care to comeback during the break. So why it's wrong for Senator Obama to ask them to comeback during break and participate in caucus? These controversies are fabricated, meaningless and waste of everyone's time.

I am highly involved with this issue through a youth-based poltiical nonprofit.  This is legal to do, whether or not it's the right thing to do is debatable:

Most states allow college students to be registered either at college or at their home address.  So as long as the students who live out of state don't try to register there as well then this is completely legal.

Whether or not it violates the spirit of the rule - given that many college students consider their "home" to be where their parents reside - is a personal decision each Iowa college student must make for themselves.

For any young Americans who want more information about voting and government, check out our website at www.60millionstrong.org.  There isn't much there right now as we're just ramping up, but we'll be adding a lot more soon.

Thanks,
Sean Baratt
President, 60 Million Strong

We're just getting off the ground with a

OBAMA IS ATTTEMPTING TO STEAL THE ELECTION-THIS MUST BE THE ADVICE HE GOT FROM KARL ROVE. HIS TRUE SCAMING NATURE IS FINALLY SEEN. JUST LIKE THE REPUBLICANS IN 200 AND 2004. IOWA VOTERS NEED TO WAKE UP!!

Either these students are eligible to caucus or they're not. If they are, why wouldn't any candidate try to win their support and get them out on caucus night? If they aren't eligible, then the Obama campaign - and presumably others doing the same thing - are spinning wheels for no gain.

They're probably spinning wheels anyway. Can't see too many college kids - in state or out - doing this. Most states don't see them come out to simply vote in a primary or general election.

I'm a voter registration volunteer and have participated at numerous voter registration drives on college campuses.  It is completely appropriate to give the college student a choice about whether they would like to vote in their college state or in their home state.  It makes the most sense to vote in whichever state is earliest.  Given that Iowa is first, it makes complete sense to recommend college students vote in Iowa.

There is absolutely nothing out of line with this.

Yeah, I went to University of Iowa, though I was from PA.  Naturally, as someone who lived in Iowa most of the year, was a registered Iowa democrat, I participated in the caucuses.  

This is a non-issue, happens in every state in every election.  

Hillary Clinton embodies everything that is wrong with American politics today.  I don't fault Obama for trying to move a few votes into Iowa.  I would move Heaven and Earth to stop Hillary if I could.  Democrats are completely delusional if they think she has a prayer in the general election.  She doesn't.  Democrats need to remember 2004, and not nominate someone who is easily despised.

Before you get all warm and fuzzy about Obama.  Just look at the number of illegls in Illinois.  Obama supports them and bussinesses that hire them.  Remember that if you are black.  He is letting them have your jobs too.

 I don't appreciate the fact that Oprah Winfrey, and Barbara Streisland are going public about their support.  This is for the election of the next PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES.  This is not a popularity contest or voting for an Emmy, Golden globe or whatever.   Let them do their regular jobs and let me hear from the candidates.

Here are the results from a latest USA today poll.  Tell me fellow Democrats, who do you think is more electable in the general election:

-Hillary Clinton (47% favorable, 50% unfavorable)
-Barack Obama (53% favorable, 33% unfavorable)

WAKE UP!  WAKE UP!  WAKE UP!  WAKE UP!

Hillary is too damn divisive.

Obama '08

These students live in Iowa 9 months of the year, pay sales tax to Iowa on everything they buy.

But they shouldn't vote in Iowa?

Surely Obama would never do anything that wasn't completely ethical (according to the press). Surely, even though he is running for president after serving half a term in the senate, he is not EGO driven (according to the press). Of course he's flawed, like all of the candidates. It's just that (when it comes to flaws) the national press corps (to date) has chosen NOT to make this a fair fight.

I have to wonder why it scares so many people that Obama is doing nothing more than encouraging the youth of this country to do what most adults are not doing...VOTE. The system is in place to keep people from voting twice.  You register your voting area and that's where you vote from.  Are people really that ignorant of the system??  Do everyone a favor...if you are too stupid to get it, keep your mouth shut and save us all the wasted time reading it. All of the candidates should be encouraging the youth to vote, its not about stacking the vote, its about people exercising their...yes, civil liberty.
If Obama gets on the ticket I will be voting Dem for the first time in my life. Obama '08  :)

No. They have to decide one or the other. I could not caucus in Iowa and vote in the then Colorado primary in 1996.
Mike K, Denver (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 5:21 PM)


Sure you could.  If the period of time between the two was great enough for you to register to vote back in CO, you absolutely could.

Say you register to vote in Iowa on January 3 with your school address.  The IL primary is February 5, I believe.  Depending on the IL voter registration law, you could skip right on back to IL and register to vote there as well, claiming your "home" address as your residence.  

It's sneaky and it's wrong - but it can be done, and done quite easily.

Um, Matthew?  I don't see Hillary's name mentioned in this story.  It is about a DSM Register reporter's opinion on the issue - not about Hillary.

But this is the same old tired song and dance that we see everyday here. Even if Hillary is not mentioned, it must be Hillary doing it - because, as we all know, Hillary is the source of all evil, and Obama is all that is good in this world.

"Question:

Does anybody know the law on this? I always thought one had to vote from one's legal residence, so if the students are legal residents of Iowa, what would preclude them from voting in Iowa?  


No. They have to decide one or the other. I could not caucus in Iowa and vote in the then Colorado primary in 1996.
Mike K, Denver (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 5:21 PM)


Sure you could.  If the period of time between the two was great enough for you to register to vote back in CO, you absolutely could.

Say you register to vote in Iowa on January 3 with your school address.  The IL primary is February 5, I believe.  Depending on the IL voter registration law, you could skip right on back to IL and register to vote there as well, claiming your "home" address as your residence.  

It's sneaky and it's wrong - but it can be done, and done quite easily.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa"



The requirement to caucus is that you live in Iowa and will be 18 by the general election, and that you are a US citizen. How many out of state students will return to their college town and caucus is anyones guess. My guess it won't effect the outcome. Presumably Obama and Clinton will both offer free bus rides to and from Chicago suburbs, where a large percent of out of state students from  University of Iowa live, or more accurately their parents live. Many "out of state" students live in Iowa City year round, but like many people they return to their parents over Christmas and thanksgiving. (Based upon the number of Illinois plates on cars, a lot of Illinois High School graduates stay in Iowa City over the summer.) Although most out of state students do live with their parents during the summer.

I doubt that many Illinois of Minnesota students will return to Iowa City for 24 hours and miss the Orange Bowl on TV to caucus, especially if it is for a perceived front runner. The attitude will be I'm not needed. Only the most dedicated supporters will return to their college town to caucus. In state students will simply caucus (if they even caucus) at their home town. I do know a young man from Alabama (both parents are MD's) who is flying back to Iowa for 2 days to caucus for Bill Richardson. He attends school in Mt. Vernon Iowa. I'm sure he is the exception not the rule.

At the University of Iowa a very large percent of out of state students (any student who starts school after graduating from a HS out of Iowa is an "Out of state student" for tuition purposes, even if they never leave the state after their first day of classes their freshman year)are already registered to vote, because of their desire to defeat an alcohol establishment referendum. They turned out in large numbers.

As far as whether a student could caucus in Iowa and vote in Illinois later, the answer is yes. As far as whether it would be illegal, is actually questionable. People claiming it to be illegal are confusing a general election with a primary (the caucus is the states equivalent) Those taking that position, are they claiming that if a person caucused in Iowa in January, was transfered to another state that had a later primary (say a May, June, or even August) that they could not vote in the primary of their new state? Of course they could.

The problem would be if someone is playing fast and lose with residency. If the student resides in Iowa during the school year, hence they are eligible to caucus, they can't later claim that they aren't residents of Iowa and also register and vote in Illinois. I doubt this will happen often, in the GOP or Democratic campaigns. But if it does they won't be prosecuted, because there will not be a public record of their voting in two primaries with conflicting claims of residency. Caucus attendance records are not  public records, they belong to the political parties and they aren't publicly released, they must be purchased. Which is why the caucus polls never start with the proper target sample and are never reliable.  

marion, why are you blaming mr. obama for the amount of illegas in illinois/ can you explain to me how he was the cause of their migration to that state? did he implement some form of legislation that lured or invited them to come to illinois?  i am trying to make a decision on all the candidates. i only want reports or statements that are provable not just thoughts, ideas or rumors. i appreciate your help. thanks

"There's not even one large population city in either Iowa or New Hampshire,"  Not true, Des Moines metro area is about equal in size to Louisville, KY and Council Bluffs is a suburb of Omaha.  The Quad Cities along the Missippi of which Davenport and Bettendorf are a part is also similar in size to Louisville.  And who says only urban residents get to decide who is President?  So there's nothing similar in size to NYC.  At least 47 other states are in the same boat.  In any case Iowa doesn't decide the next president, it only plays a part in the process.

If IL students attending school in IA for 9 months out of a year are legal residents, why are they paying out of state tution?

lol, to loyal fans, u r a genius if u have a great idea and u and ur idea are no less when its plain ol' stupid.

i keep seeing so many of you writing that you believe this story of stealing votes. yet, it is legal in iowa for students to vote if they have been there for a certain period of time, worked there for a duration period or have changed their residency.

since mr. obama has not violated one of these provisions or has broken not one iowa law someone please tell me what is wrong with what he is doing?

every candidate has the option of taking advantage of this same opportunity. why is he being hammered for the doing something they are all entitled to do? i don't get it.

by the way i researched the rumor that mr. obama is busing in high school students and other fraudulent students to iowa. there was no reference to this being said, planned or any student from illinois being propositioned. it is looking like this is a totally fabricated rumor.

why can't we deal with facts about the candidates? why are people making up all this trash? oh yeah, don't forget it is mrs. clinton campaign that is making an issue about this student vote thing. none of the other candidates are saying anything about it. they are probaly going to pursue the youth vote as well. i think it is a smart strategy. doesn't the youth of america count? shouldn't college students be allowed to vote? aren't they the future leaders of our country? i think they count. could it be that mr. obama's strong following with college students are a concern to the clinton campaign? i know mr. obama is concerned with mrs. clinton strong support amongst women over 50 years of age. he decided to try and win their vote. i would suggest that mrs. clinton try and win some of the student vote. that seems like it would be her best counter punch.

i think folks better not sleep on mr. edwards. he is a viable candidate as well. the media should give him some attention. he deserves it. he has some good ideas. i am still waiting to see or hear about his and mrs. clinton's plans in detail. mr. edwards has legitamate views.

For a country whose youth turnout is extremely low in elections, I find it funny and ironic that the first candidate in years to actually reach out and appeal to the youth is getting criticized for establishing a strong youth backing and encouraging the youth to vote.  As a college freshman, I strongly believe that politicians ignore us and don't understand our capabilities.  Most of them, such as HILLARY, don't lobby to us and can care less about us because we don't vote in large numbers.  
However, when finally a candidate appeals and connects to us (Obama) in such strong numbers and with such strong support, other candidates (Hillary)somehow find a problem with it and are trying to prevent the youth from voting. She is getting scared that we ACTUALLY care this time around.   If it is LEGAL in Iowa for out of state students to participate in the caucus, then WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?!   It is not Obama's problem! They complain that we don't vote, but when a candidate tries to get us to vote, they somehow have a problem with it. I feel that any candidate that can excite the youth about politics should be valued highly since we the youth are notorious for our apathy.  I also go to school out of state and I hope that I will be able to participate in the caucus in my school's state because I will probably not be able to make it home to participate in my state's caucus. Above all, I'm sick of candidates ignoring us.  OBAMA 2008!!!!

My parents live in Oregon, and I go to school in Illinois. I am registered in Illinois. You can vote in any state where you have an address as long as you don't vote in two places in one election. Most out of state students in my school register in the state where they believe their vote will make a bigger difference.

OMG!!!!  ARE YOU SERIOUS????  BARACK OBAMA WANTS THESE KIDS TO VOTE FOR HIM - THAT'S....THAT'S....

common sense.

Obama 08!

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