Primary has pull for political junkies
HUDSON, N.H. — The Granite State’s first-in-the-nation primary is a draw for out-of-state political junkies looking for a front-row seat to this year’s contentious election.
“We’ve gotten to hear every one of the candidates speak. It’s a really great experience to witness,” said Hofstra University student Kasia Cherubin of Washington at a Bernie Sanders rally on Monday.
Cherubin and about 100 other students traveled to New Hampshire to see politics in action — a first for Cherubin and many of her classmates who will be voting in a presidential election for the first time.
“It all hinges on the New Hampshire election,” said Nick Bekker, another Hofstra student.
Cherubin said it was “inspiring” to have a moment with the candidate she’s spent so much time campaigning for.
Nurka Alarcon of Albany, N.Y., traveled to Claremont on Sunday to see Bernie Sanders.
“I believe in his values and wanted to show my support,” she said.
Maddy Troilo of Princeton, N.J., said she made the two-hour trek from Smith College in Massachusetts to Claremont on Sunday to throw her support behind her candidate: Bernie Sanders.
“We need the party elites to see us and get behind what the people of this party actually want,” Troilo said.
Julie Graves of Corpus Christi, Texas — another Smith student — agreed.
“There’s an overwhelming mindset in the Democratic Party right now that we need a moderate — people need to stop thinking that and pull together,” Graves said.