After sharing some biographical information and making their best case for why they're worth spending time with, about twenty young professional ladies and gentleman will be auctioned off for dates during the evening. The meetings will take place at a convenient time for both participants.
"Barack Obama is the rare candidate that inspires young people to get involved and fun themes like a date auction are a great way to harness their enthusiasm toward supporting the campaign, as he needs to grow his record-breaking 258,000 donor base to offset his need for money from Federal lobbyists," said Jim McBride, who as Founder of Generation Webb in 2006 and President of the Arlington Young Democrats, is now involved in local young professional outreach on behalf of the DC-Metro area Obama grassroots effort. "We need move on from this 'Obama Girl' hype and translate it into something meaningful that can help Obama win the nomination."
Obama for America plans to launch a program called Generation Obama in DC on August 25th that will mobilize young voters toward similar fundraising,
campaign and community service events.
With the date auction, McBride is working on building interest in Obama's campaign as more than just a "rock star" following among young voters prior to the official kickoff of the outreach initiative.
"Many of us are reacting favorably to this very charismatic, new Senator with a unique cultural background and a keen understanding of the Generation X/Y voter," continued McBride. "But it's important that we remember that this is about more than one man, this is a Movement for toward a New Kind of Politics that focuses on hope and unity, not the bitter political squabbles of the past. This is our first real chance for a new Generation of leadership in America and we have to seize it because America needs change more than ever."
Recent reports have shown that the 18-29 demographic will be especially critical in 2008 because the "Millenial Generation" (which will soon be the largest voting demographic) is considered more progressive than ever on issues like the War in Iraq as well as the enviroment, diversity and gay rights, voting in 3-2 margins for Democrats in 2006 as opposed to 3-2 margins for Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Barack Obama leads these voters 18%-17% in a recent New York Times poll and has an even stronger following among the college-educated campaign activist community that will be very important on the ground before the early primary and caucus elections.