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Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

Republican road trip

INDIANAPOLIS ' Thousands of Hoosiers gathered at an Indianapolis airport hangar Wednesday afternoon to see their hero of the new millennium. For a group of 25 IU students, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. \n"It was like heaven for me," said College Republicans President Anne Scuffham, a junior, of her brief encounter with Texas Gov. George W. Bush. "I felt like he was talking to me individually. It was like, 'Yes, George, what do you need me to do? What else can I help with?'"\nThe students, comprised of both die-hard Republicans and the conservative-curious, piled into their cars early Wednesday morning for a mini-road trip to greet Bush during his campaign stop in Indianapolis. Upon their arrival, the students adorned themselves with buttons and stickers and proceeded to take posts for handing out bumper stickers. A small and unglamorous effort it may have been, but knowing it was for the good of the Republican cause, the students were more than happy to help.\n"This is pretty awesome," said junior Jake Oakman. Oakman attended his first College Republicans meeting Tuesday evening and jumped at the chance to see the would-be president. \n"I like Bush," Oakman said. "I like his stances on a lot of the issues. I think he has integrity on a lot of the moral issues and ethics."\nA large youth contingent turned out, holding signs with such slogans as "Bush rocks" and "We love Dubya!"\nFor Oakman and the other attendees, the real fun began around 12:15 p.m., when state Republican candidates took their turns at the podium. The IU College Republicans were joined by their counterparts from Butler and Purdue universities, and all had a front and center spot for the action. The scene had all the color and spirit of a down-home Fourth of July parade ' or July's Republican National Convention, for that matter. Voices crescendoed with the fervor of a revival-style sermon and echoed to the hangar's back corners.\n"Al Gore stood in the rose garden of the White House and said Bill Clinton is one of the greatest presidents in American history. Do you believe that? Do you?" challenged speaker Mike McDaniel. \nThe governor himself arrived just after 1 p.m., to cheers that nearly drowned out recorded Gloria Estefan music. Giving his traditional speech of better managing the budget surplus, ridding Washington of Clinton-Gore scandals and "double-talk" and helping farmers and businesses, the CRs heard nothing new. But that mattered little to them. It was their man, W., the man who stands for all they hold important in government.\n"I thought the crowd response was phenomenal, and I thought he addressed his issues really well. Wow," Scuffham said, summing up the ultimate experience for the young Republican.

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