Wake Forest University students were on the front lines of the Iowa caucuses Monday to learn more about how campaigns and elections really work.
The experience is part of a program called “Wake the Vote,” which is sending nearly two dozen students to early primary states to give them a taste of democracy up close. While there, they volunteer with presidential campaigns, even if the candidate doesn't line up with their political views.
David Ajamy II is a freshman who has been interested in politics since he was young. He volunteered with Republican Ted Cruz's campaign, making phone calls encouraging people to vote. Cruz won the Republican caucus over a large and competitive Republican field.
While Ajamy describes himself as left-of-center politically, he says it was exciting to see the passion of the volunteers working for something they believe in.
“Through media, we just hear ‘if you're a Democrat, you've got to hate the Republicans…Republicans hate the Democrats,'" Ajamy says. "We all think we know the right thing to do – and we all we know the right candidate – and it's amazing to see we're all just people. We're all just trying to learn what's right and trying to do what's best for ourselves and our future and our country.”
Camry Wilborn is a WFU senior who says she usually votes for Democrats, but hasn't yet picked a candidate. She went door-knocking in Iowa on Monday on behalf of Hillary Clinton, who won Iowa by the slimmest of margins over Bernie Sanders.
Wilborn later went to observe a caucus, and said she came away encouraged that so many people were so enthusiastic about the making their voices heard.
“Being able to be here and be in the audience and observe it was really, really great. And just seeing all the people in the community come out and be politically engaged, that's something we don't always see, especially in Winston-Salem,” Wilborn said. “I think people get involved when something goes wrong, but not just to be involved.”
The students will head next to New Hampshire to volunteer with new campaigns. The New Hampshire primary takes place Tuesday, Feb. 9th.
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