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Obama plays youth card
24/01/2008 14:26 - (SA)
Rock Hill, South Carolina - The youngest runner in the White House race, 46-year-old Barack Obama, hopes his rapport with young voters will translate into victory at Saturday's Democratic primary in South Carolina.
Obama, who gained a significant boost with the endorsement of talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, is on a feverish tour of colleges and universities, and is often accompanied by hugely popular young artists such as the singer Usher and comedian Chris Tucker.
His campaign hopes that his own youth and message of unity and change will inspire a large chunk of voters in South Carolina, where more than 600 000 voters are under 30.
"He's an inspiration for young people," said Kelonda Trottie, 19, a student who turned out along with 600 of her peers at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina to hear the Illinois senator speak Wednesday.
"I'm so happy to see people my age getting involved," said Trottie, outfitted in a black leather jacket decorated with cartoon characters on the back.
While Obama's rival, former first lady Hillary Clinton, left South Carolina after a debate earlier this week to continue her campaign in other key primary states, Obama stayed on and is focusing his attention on schools.
Young people, many of whom like Trottie are preparing to vote for the first time in a presidential election, turn out in droves to hear a speech by the son of a Kenyan father and white American mother.
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