As Bush Nears New England, Students Begin Campaigns

George W. Bush won't arrive in New England until later this week, but students on both sides of the campus political scene are already gearing up for his presidential campaign.

While the Students for George W. Bush are in their nascent stages, the College Democrats have already begun a "George W. Bush Education Campaign."

College Democrats President Joseph N. Sanberg '01 said the purpose of the campaign is to educate students about Bush and to demonstrate the role students will play in Bush's plans.

"First, it's to educate the students on what George W. Bush actually stands for, behind his veil of compassionate conservatism," Sanberg said. "Second, it's to show the Democrats as the party that represents student concerns."

The College Democrats began the campaign at its first general meeting, distributing flyers that detailed Bush's campaign proposals and his record as governor of Texas.

"We want to show that, while Bush tries to move away rhetorically from the Republican Congress, in his campaign he is very close to the Republicans," Sanberg said.

Soon, the College Democrats will be tabling in front of the Science Center and distributing flyers about Bush's education proposals. The group is also planning a November event to discuss gun control in the context of the upcoming presidential election, said Sanberg.

The Students for George W. Bush, whose founding parallels the creation of similar groups supporting Democratic candidates Al Gore '69 and Bill Bradley, is an affiliate of the College Republicans. The new group has drawn about 20 people to its first two meetings.

"We're just getting people together...and brainstorming right now," said Students for Bush member Erin L. Sheley '02. The group has not yet planned any campus-wide events

"We've done some postering and door-dropping, and we plan to go to New Hampshire this Thursday when George W. Bush arrives there," Sheley said.

The group has few ties to the College Republicans, but uses that organization's e-mail list to recruit members and publicize its events.

"The Students for Bush receive no financial resources from the College Republicans," said Anne L. Berry '01. "They mostly make use of informational and networking resources."

Sheley said she had not heard about the College Democrats' George W. Bush Education Campaign, but said she hopes that it does not become a personal attack on the presidential candidate.

"As long as it's handled tastefully, I have nothing to say about it," Sheley said.

According to Sanberg, the campaign would focus on the issues of the campaign and Bush's actual policy proposals.

"This is absolutely not a mud-slinging campaign," he said. "We've found that people at Harvard respond to issues, not sound bytes."