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the university daily kansan 5A
By Patrick Cady pcady@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Show me the president: Missouri primary begins
In the past 50 years, all but one winner of the Missouri primary has ended up on the November presidential ballots.
Today, as the polls open in the Missouri primary, the Show-Me State might show the world who the next Democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States will be.
The Missouri race might have special importance for two reasons, Donald Haider-Markel, associate professor of political science, said.
First,after the home state favorite and former Speaker of the House Dick
Campaign
2004
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Gephardt dropped out of the race following the Iowa caucus, the winner of Missouri's support has become more mysterious. This is important because Missouri has more delegates than most of the seven states that have primaries or caucuses today, Haider-Markel said.
Missouri also might be a swing-state come November, meaning the voters could elect a candidate from either party.
from either party.
“It's a battleground state for both parties,” Haider-Markel said. “It gives both parties a sense of what it's going to take to win.”
According to a recent poll by Survey USA, 812 voters were asked who they would vote for in
the Missouri primary. 41 percent said they would vote for U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Following Kerry in Missouri were U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) with 17 percent and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean with 16 percent.
Howard Dean warns "I think Tuesday could easily clinch it for Kerry," said Tom Keating, Marysville junior and head of the KU Democrats. "But there will probably be at least a few more surprises before the convention."
Kerry's lead is disconcerting to
"I have to admit I find it a little disappointing it isn't a tighter race," said James Owen, Springfield graduate student.
No matter what the results of the primary. Missouri might still help shape the tone of the rest of the presidential race.
"It's pretty meaningful as an early test," Haider-Markel said. "What messages will work here will work for both parties."
work for your purposes.
Keating said that if the results
of Missouri primary don't clarify Democratic candidacy race, they might help she a spotlight on the Kansas primary.
"That doesn't happen very often and it would be great if Kansas factored into the nomination process this year," Keating said. "A close primary in Kansas could generate interest in the candidates and would help network Democrats in Kansas."
Passion for Dean, politics permeate freshman's life
Edited by Joe Hartigan
Sam Stepp, Shawnee Mission freshman, held former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean brochures and a magazine as he sat in his residence hall room yesterday.A Dean supporter since 2003. Stepp is co-chairman of KU for Dean.
By Samia Khan
skhan@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Sam Stepp doesn't like the feeling of making people unhappy. He knows it is impossible for politicians to keep everyone satisfied, so he tells his friends that it's just not the life for him.
He also realizes politics is a major avenue of positive change. He tries to pick candidates of strong character who are willing to fight for the people.
"Most people don't trust politicians, but I'm hoping to find the good side," he said.
Stepp, Shawnee Mission freshman, is the co-chairman of KU for Dean, a student organization that campaigns for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Democratic presidential candidate. After attending a local Dean meet-up last semester, Stepp began organizing student campaign activities. Stepp helps to organize the group, passes out fliers, chalks sidewalks and writes letters to undecided voters.
Stepp has been a supporter since Dean's early campaign days of 2003. He has spoken with Dean on two occasions. The first meeting was in tent set up in a supporter's back yard. A few months later, he met him again at a crowded speech in the Uptown Theatre in Kansas City, Mo.
In the theater, Stepp caught Dean's attention.
"I was echoing his catch
phrases," he said. "He laughed and picked me out of the crowd with his microphone. He knew I'd seen him speak before." Stepp said.
Stepp had seen and met Dean so many times that he remembered large portions of Dean's stump speech.
"He's a really nice guy," he said. "The media likes to portray him as an angry little man, but he wants to help people."
Stepp shows his enthusiasm by keeping campaign stickers, clippings, signs, buttons and a stack of photos taken with Dean.
In his residence hall room, there is a split in the ranks. On one side of the front door is an homage to Dean. The other side is his roommate's display of U. S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) clippings. They meet in the middle of the door with a newspaper photo of Kerry, Edwards, and Dean, the three Democrats with whom they find a common ground.
"It's a funny competition," said Jeff Stocker, Leawood freshman and Stepps roommate. "It's refreshing to see someone who is so involved and cares as much."
caries as me edu Stepp was only a sophomore in high school when his interest in politics developed along with his desire to help people.
If he does run for office someday,he hopes he would be strong enough to maintain his integrity in the political game.
"My friends always tell me 1
should run because I would be different from the rest of the politicians," he said.
He fears being a politician would expose him to too much negativity and cause him to lose
Regardless of what he decides for his future career, Stepp wants to involve in political issues. His involvement with KU for Dean and local meet-ups helped him see that he is not alone in his concerns.
focus on making changes in the world. Knowing somewhere that deep in politics there is a good side keeps him motivated to create change, he said. Dean is his primary example.
"I'm going to give it my all until the end," he said. "I still have optimism in helping change the world."
- Edited by Louise Stauffer
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