By: Politico

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama said young people could be a powerful force in the upcoming presidential election and urged college students to register to vote during a Saturday conference call.

“If young people turn out at the levels that they can turn out, it can end up being the decisive voting block in this election,” Obama, who was campaigning in Newport News, Va., said. “We have opportunity, not just to change this country, but to change the world in this election.”

Young people have contributed energetically to political campaigns this year due to issues like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , climate change and the economic downturn, Obama said during the approximately 15- minute call with about 75 college journalists from across the country.

“There’s a sense among the next generation of voters that we’re at the defining moment in our history,” he said. “I think that people recognize that if we don’t deal with these critical issues now, then at some point we may be too late.”

Obama also outlined his proposed policies on issues like student debt, the financial crisis and volunteer service.

Obama said his plan would ease financial burdens on those attending college by tying aid to volunteer service.

“I put forward a plan saying we’re going to provide a $4,000 tuition credit, every student, every year, in exchange for some form of community service,” he said. “We will make college affordable for you, and we’ll pay for it by getting banks out of the business of mediating student loans between the government and students.”

Obama also said he would double Peace Corps positions and expand AmeriCorps, which helps fund programs like Teach for America where teachers are forgiven portions of their loans in exchange for teaching at schools in low-income communities.

“I think young people are eager and ready to serve, we just have not asked enough of this generation,” he said. “I see young people volunteering and getting involved all the time, but they become cynical about politics.”

College students shouldn’t rule out careers in government, Obama said.

“We need the best and the brightest being involved in public service,” he said. “We want people in the Foreign Service , we want people in the military, we want people willing to do outstanding work in the federal government, in state and local government.”

Josh Earnest, an Obama spokesman, said the call was scheduled for Saturday to reach young people before voter registration deadlines expired in 28 states this coming week, not including Minnesota, which allows voters to register at the polls on election day.

Obama urged young people to familiarize themselves with each candidate’s policies.

“This is one that is as important as any election you’ll probably ever participate in,” he said. “This is not an election to sit out.”

Jon Collins is a reporter at The Minnesota Daily. The Minnesota Daily is partnering with Campus Politico for the 2008 elections.

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