Joshua Schulman-Marcus reports from the Barack Obama headquarters in New Hampshire
In case you hadn’t noticed, the US presidential elections are later this year and things are hotting up just now as the Democrats and Republicans choose their presidential candidates. So, I thought you might be interested to hear what Joshua Schulman-Marcus, a 4th year medical student at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, is up to today! Rhona
New Hampshire is in red
I am writing from the campaign headquarters of Barack Obama in Manchester, New Hampshire. I’ve come up from Boston to help knock on doors for Obama, who is a major candidate in the Democratic presidential primary. Since the New Hampshire primary is of great significance in selecting the candidates for the 2008 presidential election, today is promising to be a very exciting day.
In the current United States political system, the candidates for each of the major parties are chosen by a series of elections in different states. By tradition, Iowa and New Hampshire are the first to vote in the nation, giving these small states disproportionate attention and power. Generally, only those voters registered with a specific party can vote in that party’s primary. Here in New Hampshire, however, a voter not affiliated with a political party (”independent”) can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. As about 50% of the voters here are independent, it intensifies the competition for votes.
This year’s presidential election is pivotal. Major issues have included health care, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, immigration, the inadequacies in the nation’s education system, concerns about the strength of the economy, and energy policy. Underlying these issues is a widespread concern about the role of the United States in a globalizing world. Many of the major questions on voters’ minds have international aspects, whether it is global trade, international health, migration, the “outsourcing” of jobs, climate change, and of course, concerns about security and our ongoing wars. There is also dismay that the United States’ image in the rest of the world has become more unfavorable over the past few years, and that our country is losing its leadership on key issues such as development, human rights, and educational capacity.
Barack Obama, my candidate of choice, has gained tremendous momentum since his victory in the Iowa caucus last week. He especially appeals to younger voters (see here) such as myself and at the headquarters here, there are numerous students and recent graduates. There is also a smattering of people of all ages and from all walks of life, many of whom have traveled great distances to participate in this primary. Obama’s campaign theme has largely revolved around “hope” and “change,” which may explain his growing appeal in a country that has long nurtured a can-do optimism about the future. Indeed, at his campaign events he is treated as a rock star, with thousands of enthusiastic supporters queuing for hours in the cold to listen to him speak.
It is thus incredibly exciting to be volunteering here in New Hampshire today. While I am obviously hoping that Obama will prevail, what I am appreciating most in the surge in optimism here. After a few years of feeling cynical about the direction of our government, it is inspiring to be part of a wave that is built on the best aspects of our country. It is a reminder of what a privilege it is to live here in the United States, and about the potential of our country to regain its leadership role in solving some of the most pressing problems of our day. Joshua Schulman-Marcus