Campaigns rev up for Jan. 19 caucus

Staff Reports

Democratic campaigns swung through Carson Valley this week.

On Thursday, retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, who is stumping for Hillary Clinton, met with more than a dozen Valley Democrats at 88 Cups. Eaton was in charge of training the Iraqi military from 2003 to 2004. He has been a vocal critic of Bush policies in Iraq.

On Tuesday, Douglas High School Students for Barack Obama met at the Starbucks near their campus in Minden to discuss student involvement in the upcoming Democratic caucuses.

Senior Jake Reid, president of the student group, started the meeting by describing the reasons he got involved in the campaign.

"With the caucuses this January, students can have a real voice in choosing the next president," he said. "And I chose to work for Barack Obama, because he is the only candidate who can unite the country and bring the change we need."

Douglas students have been working on their campus to encourage student participation in the caucuses.

"A caucus is different than a primary election," said Reid. "In a caucus, you meet as a precinct with your friends and neighbors, and publicly stand up for your candidate. It's much more involved and it means that by bringing a group of friends with us, we can make a real impact."

The Students for Obama have been walking their neighborhoods, making phone calls, putting together campaign materials, and working at their school to spread Obama's message of change to their classmates.

"Douglas High will caucus for Barack Obama on Jan. 19," said senior Jacob O'Farrell, the vice president of the student group. "We're fired up and ready for change, and Obama has the judgment and courage to bring real change to Washington."