Campaign supporters say the re-election effort for President Bush is in full swing, even though he doesn't have a definite opponent.
Katie Allardyce, chairperson of MSU Students for Bush, said they have been working to recruit volunteers to spread Bush's message. The group has held rallies on campus and is working to organize more.
"George Bush has the largest amount of volunteers and highest approval ratings than any president has ever had amongst college students," Allardyce said. "It's good to get them together and working to start re-electing the president."
The Bush campaign officially kicked off last spring with fund-raising and a grassroots campaign strategy.
The grassroots movement has been successful in Michigan, said Jeff Stormo, spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party.
"We have been having 'Super Tuesday,' where volunteers throughout the state get together and attempt to identify unregistered voters and sign them up," he said. "It is still an ongoing process, but we set a goal of 100,000 registered supporters by Feb. 7 and we actually beat that goal."
Stormo said the harsh criticism of Bush by Democratic candidates is not threatening to the president's campaign.
"It's something to be expected when Democrats have nothing else to talk about," he said. "Bush is not on the stand with them, so he is an easy target. I think as the campaign is drawn out, you will see President Bush respond."
Democrats throughout the state and nation seem to be showing support for any candidate. At many rallies and Democratic events, people have expressed an "anybody but Bush" strategy.
Student groups have said they will support the eventual Democratic nominee - regardless of where their loyalties lie - but they still are specialized for the time being.
Most of the presidential candidates have a group on campus campaigning for them. Student Democrat groups have been active in phone banking, registering voters and spreading their candidate's message door to door.
Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Lansing-based Inside Michigan Politics, said sometimes campaigning never ends.
"It's important to campaign nonstop," he said. "You have to raise money, give speeches, meet with potential supporters and be willing and ready to counter things your opponents are saying about you almost from the start of your term in office."
Ballenger said trying to predict the outcome of November's election would be "ridiculous" at this point, but the Democratic front-runner could have an advantage this year.
"If John Kerry becomes the Democratic nominee, you will have a nominee picked the earliest ever," he said. "You are looking at nine months of general election campaigning between Kerry and Bush - it is unprecedented."
Tim Phelps is the chair of Students for Bush for the state.
He said the student campaign was officially started at an event before the University of Michigan vs. Ohio State football game in November, where about 200 students attended to hear Republican Attorney General Mike Cox speak.
Phelps said the campaign is not taking anything for granted.
"This is going to be a really close election, students could make a big difference in any of the states," he said. "Michigan is a very important state and we take that seriously here, we were one of the earliest states to kick off the campaign."
Phelps said starting the campaign early is crucial.
"There is a lot of noise happening right now with the Democrats and we need to make sure our message gets through," he said. "Every day you spend organizing is a day you spend not campaigning, so the earlier we get set, the more widespread and diverse our message can be."
