Obama discusses young people's role in election

Posted to Politics Watch by Mary Daly at 12:23 p.m., Oct. 4, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addressed college media Saturday morning about the strength of the student voice in the 2008 presidential election.

"I think there's a sense among the next generation of voters that we're at a defining moment in history," Obama said.

Obama spoke to 75 college media outlets while campaigning in Newport News, Va.

The purpose of the interview was to discuss the campaign's efforts to encourage college students to vote, Obama campaign official Josh Earnest said.

Earnest said the campaign reached out to colleges on Saturday because many voter registration deadlines are coming up, including Missouri's deadline on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

"This campaign believes strongly in grassroots values of democracy and we want to encourage people, especially young people, to get involved," Earnest said.

Obama discussed issues that affect college students, such as affirmative action and the job market.

"If properly structured, affirmative action can help promote diversity and increase opportunity," he said.

Obama said the biggest challenge for students is not getting into college but paying for it.

"A lot of people are being priced out of the market and are having trouble going to college whether they're accepted or not," he said.

Obama said he would make college more affordable by expanding the grant system and giving tax credits to families with children in college.

He also discussed his plans to create more jobs for young college graduates.

"The biggest potential for job creation is in the energy sector," Obama said. "We could create 5 million new jobs in the energy sector if we just had the support from Washington."

Obama said young people could be the decisive voting block in this election.

"This is not an election to sit out," he said. "This is one of the most important elections that you'll probably ever participate in."

Earnest directed voters to Obama's Web site, which provides information about registering to vote.