Clinton's Harvard Fans Head North

NASHUA, N.H.—With the first presidential primary less than a year away, Harvard hopefuls traveled to New Hampshire on Saturday to volunteer for Sen. Hillary R. Clinton, in town speaking at a fundraiser for the state Democratic Party.

The Granite State, which traditionally hosts the first presidential primary in the nation, often plays a pivotal role in determining which ultimately candidates win the nomination. After Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts won the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary in 2004, he was considered the odds-on favorite for the nomination.

Ari S. Ruben ’08, co-chair of Harvard Students for Hillary, said Saturday’s trip had the largest Harvard student turnout so far this year.

“It is often said that Hillary Clinton is not the most exciting candidate in the race, but what you saw today were 24 students from Harvard, a roomful of people who paid money just to hear her speak, and all of whom gave a rousing ovation to her,” Ruben said. “She is ready to run for president and ready to be president.”

Ruben and the other students greeted attendees, answered questions, and handed out Hillary bumper stickers.

The Harvard students were invited to a roundtable discussion with a senior Clinton campaign staffer to discuss campaign initiatives on- and off-campus.

Clinton opened the discussion session with Darfur and global warming, the two major issues that the students had told a campaign manager most concerned college students, said Rahul Prabhakar ’09, co-chair of Harvard Students for Hillary.

Though the Harvard Democrats do not officially endorse any primary candidate, President Brigit M. Helgen ’08 and Vice-President Harlan M. Piper ’08 attended Clinton’s speech.

Jennifer Hanley, Clinton’s press secretary, said the "response was tremendous" for the event and stressed Clinton’s stance on education.

Student issues formed a major focus of Clinton’s speech.

"College tuitions are shutting doors to too many students," Clinton said.

These college students were among the "invisible Americans" that Clinton claimed the Bush presidency has ignored.

"For six long years, [middle-class Americans] have all been invisible. Well, they’re not invisible to us. They’re not invisible to me," Clinton said.

"And when we retake the White House, they will no longer be invisible to the President of the United States," she added.

After the speech, Clinton spoke briefly to the Harvard Students for Hillary.

"Clinton understands that this administration does not care," Ruben said. "They don’t care and they don’t see the people of this country who need our help. Hillary Clinton gets it."