Posted on 03/22/2008 2:18:09 PM PDT by SmithL
Bryan DeWinter spent his summer vacation in Israel, speaking with convicted terrorists at a maximum-security prison and venturing to the Syrian and Lebanese borders, where signs of the 2006 war with Hezbollah still remained. In Washington, D.C., he spent winter break meeting with Department of Homeland Security officials, analyzing government tactics to quell terrorist activities.
Although young Democrats have dominated the spotlight this presidential election, helping to swell the ranks of new voters, college Republicans like DeWinter are just as impassioned about the 2008 presidential campaign. But instead of demanding a change of course from the Bush administration's policies, young Republicans remain adamant that the threat of terrorism is still the country's No. 1 priority.
"It is what compelled me to support Rudy Giuliani, initially," said DeWinter, 21, chair of the San Jose State University College Republicans. "I am now happy to support Sen. John McCain, as he is our nominee, and I believe that he is the best candidate out there to continue to combat international terrorism."
The Bay Area is home to 1,700 College Republicans, according to the umbrella organization California College Republicans. It is a sizable group, given the strong liberal bent of the San Francisco region, and the students are often fiery and vocal activists. They are charged with the party's grunt work: registering voters, walking precincts, organizing grassroots campaigns and raising money.
This month, local college conservatives began to abandon other candidates and coalesce, sometimes reluctantly, around McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.
"While the Democrats battle it out into June, we're getting people excited about our nominee," said Michael Antonopoulos, 20, the Bay Area vice chair of California College Republicans and a student at St. Mary's College. "McCain has made huge sacrifices for our country and every day he looks more presidential."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Both of 'em?
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