By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

As election day draws closer, the atmosphere around Maris Grove has become electric. Televisions on campus are tuned to the Presidential debates and Maris Grove residents are in the home stretch—holding rallies, blogging on the Internet, supporting their candidates, and taking an active role in the election.

So far, both the McCain and Obama camps have shown passionate followings at the community.

McCain for President Club
Maris Grove’s McCain for President Club held a rally for their candidate, which included State Senator Dominic Pileggi, Representative Stephen Barrar, and U.S. Congressional candidate Craig Williams, who spoke during the rally.

“It was a great opportunity for us to get exposure to our local politicians and meet our congressional candidates,” says Dick Parsons, leader of the Maris Grove Veterans and member of the McCain for President Club. “This is an important election and this program afforded us a chance to become more informed as we prepare to vote in the upcoming election.”

Senator Pileggi says McCain’s leadership, experience, and his ability to work with both sides of the aisle will be a boon for America if he’s elected. “Senator McCain is an independent centrist Republican who will represent the interests of residents of Maris Grove and greater Delaware County,” Pileggi says.

Blogging for Obama
The Obama camp is also represented on campus. One resident, Frank Elwood, has been blogging his thoughts about the election on the Barack Obama website.

“I’ve always been active in politics and have yet to sit out an election,” Elwood says. “I started this little thing up to show that the demographic at Maris Grove isn’t all republican.”

He adds, “We need change. McCain is inexplicably wedded to President Bush. I think we really need to do anything and everything possible, within legal and ethical bounds, to get Obama elected.”