Sep 12, 2008 10:45 pm US/Central
Young Republicans Plan To Convert Democrats
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Young Republicans gather in Chicago to network. They plan to turn Democratic Chicago into a McCain-friendly city.
CBS
Young Republicans are on a mission to turn heavily Democratic Chicago into John McCain country. As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports they're fired up for the grand old party.
On Friday night, in the heart of Democrat country – downtown Chicago - young Republicans and members of "Young Professionals for McCain" got together. They were networking, snacking and drinking, and talking about Sarah Palin and her much discussed appearances on ABC News.
Carolyn Noon says Palin's lit a fire within her.
"Charlie Gibson was tough, you know, and he did a really great job but she went right into her answers and looked him right in the eye and as she said, she didn't even blink," said Carolyn Noon, McCain supporter.
But can Palin do what GOP bigwigs hope, and bring in disaffected Hillary Clinton voters?
"I think there will be some soccer moms that will cross over from the Hillary camp into the Sarah camp," said Christine Svenson, McCain supporter. "But her numbers have really gone up with independent men."
Friday's gathering seemed to show that Democrat Barack Obama has not completely sewn up the youth vote.
"Obama can effectively speak the language of millennials, people who were born in my generation and that is an issue that must be dealt with," said Nick Schrock, McCain supporter. "The addition of Palin to the ticket does help that."
Organizers of the bash say they think they've got a fighting chance to actually win Chicago.
"Definitely making ourselves known that there are republicans in Chicago," said Jeremy Rose, Chicago Young Republicans. "I don't think Obama should take his home town for granted."
The young GOP plan to paint the town red in November is flying in the face of history. The Chicago Board of Elections combed records today and was unable to find a single modern era presidential election in which a Republican carried the city. Even in his 1984 landslide, Ronald Reagan won only 10 of Chicago's 50 wards.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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