The presidential election's result could be in the hands of a single ASU dorm.
The daughter of Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards told about 30 ASU tailgaters Saturday that the 537 Florida votes in the 2000 election that determined the U.S. president is the size of a dormitory, and the number can easily be mobilized.
"The race could even be closer this time," said Cate Edwards. "When I'm out there [visiting schools], I basically think, 'what if we lose by one vote or win by one vote?' That's what is at stake here. If we can get people out to a tailgate party in this weather, you should be able to get people to the polls as well."
Edwards, 22, said she is visiting about seven colleges and universities while in Arizona this week. She has visited about 20 colleges and universities nationwide as part of a campaign effort.
Edwards, who is campaigning in Arizona for her father and John Kerry, was the special guest to a tailgate party before the ASU football game. Chris Moysset, president of the Young Democrats at ASU, said the group put together the event after getting a call Thursday from the Arizona Democratic Party about Edwards' visit to Arizona. The event was held in Lot 42, on Lemon Street and McAllister Avenue.
"I've been traveling around and found that students are very easy to energize," Edwards said. "They are really interested; they are engaged. There is a lot at stake here and this is our future."
Edwards said college students across the country have asked her questions about education, the war in Iraq, health care and jobs. She said education is an important issue to students because they are dealing with college loans and figuring out how to pay for them.
She said she tells students about the Kerry-Edwards plan to give students $4,000 in tax credits per year. The plan also includes a program that gives students four years of free state tuition when they perform two years of community service.
"Students really like that and like to hear that my dad and John Kerry support education," Edwards said.
She said Arizona, considered a swing state, is still up for grabs by both parties.
"We have a shot here in Arizona," Edwards said. "That's why my father was here last week in Tucson and why I'm here and why Teresa Heinz will be here next week."
She told students that young voters could be the margin that would win the election.
"If we get motivated and mobilized, we can easily decide who the next president is," Edwards said. "It's important that we go out and vote because this is our future. Whether we inherit a massive deficit or a dirty environment, we need to make that choice. It's certainly not up to me but to the ASU students and students across the nation to make that choice."
Journalism freshman Soraya Dadras, who turned 18 in July, said on Nov. 2 she'll vote in her first election.
"It's really good to have somebody like Cate Edwards here visiting," Dadras said. "She renews excitement for our efforts to win this state."
ASU Young Democrats president Chris Moysset said Arizona is still a swing state.
"We think that if we work hard enough, we can turn Arizona blue," Moysset said, referring to the color codes given by TV stations during the 2000 election coverage.
Reach the reporter at laosamoa.poasa@asu.edu.
