Just before Super Tuesday, former Sen. John Edwards
surprised Democrats across the country when he suspended his campaign for the
presidency. He ended his campaign where it began, in the streets of New
Orleans, where the rebuilding efforts still continue more than two years after
Hurricane Katrina shattered the Gulf Coast.

It was a fitting backdrop for a campaign that focused on the
plight and poverty of America?s working class, and history will remember Mr.
Edwards fondly for the issues he raised and the passion with which he raised
them. As he addressed supporters with his family, he stated that, ?It is time
for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path.?

Watching the Democratic debate in Los Angeles the next
evening, the history Mr. Edwards spoke of took center stage. As Barack Obama
and Hillary Clinton sat beside each other answering questions from the CNN
panelists, one couldn?t help but realize that this election has the potential
to be one of the greatest our nation has ever seen.

To be sure, there is much more to candidates than their
gender or the color of their skin, but to ignore those factors would deny the
significance of this moment, our moment, in time.

I am proud to have two candidates running to represent the
Democratic Party who are prepared to lead our country in a new direction, a
progressive direction, beginning on day one. Democrats have solutions to the
most important problems facing our country, from health care to the war in
Iraq; we are the party of possibilities. We want an energy policy that protects
our environment and a fiscal policy that balances the budget. Sens. Clinton and
Obama support a woman?s right to choose and civil rights for same-sex couples.

But their ability to lead is not the only thing driving
people out to vote Democratic in the primaries in record numbers. It?s also
their uniqueness, and the historicity of their candidacies. It?s the change
they embody, and the future they promise.

It?s an amazing and exciting race on our side of the aisle.
The two faces of the Democratic nominees look nothing like any who have lead
our nation before.

History is being made by their candidacies. But don?t expect
to see that sort of history being made on the Republican side. In fact, you can
expect history to repeat itself with what Republicans are offering the American
people. Their presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is heir apparent
to the Bush legacy of failed policies, particularly in the realm of foreign
relations and Iraq. There truly can be no better contrast ? the change and hope
our Democratic candidates offer and our eventual nominee will achieve,
juxtaposed with the tired and failed policies of the last seven years. If that
isn?t enough to make you vote Democratic next Tuesday, I?m not sure what will.

With a close race on the Democratic side, Wisconsin voters
will play a decisive role in deciding who will be the next Democratic
presidential nominee. If voter turnout in previous contests this primary season
is any indication, Wisconsin voters will turn out in droves to support their
candidates.

Over the next five days, I encourage you to attend some of
the many campaign rallies and events on our campus. The opportunities to see
and experience our future president in person are amazing, and the amount of
political activity will be unprecedented. It?s all about what you do next
Tuesday, Wisconsin. And with two historic and able candidates ? and the stakes
higher than ever before ? rest assured that the entire world will be watching.

I would like to thank the leaders of Students for Hillary
and Students for Obama, student leaders like Erica Buthmann, Stephanie Biese
and K.J. Hansmann, as well as Ami Elsharief and Maggie Raiken. Both groups have
run wonderful campaigns and are bringing the candidates and their surrogates to
engage with students here directly. It?s been an exciting primary season, but
every Democrat knows this is all just a precursor.

The real excitement will be in November when a Democrat is
elected to the White House.

I ask that you look seriously at each candidate, weigh their
policies and their characters, and choose the one you think will best lead our
country over the next four years.

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Oliver Kiefer
([email protected]) is
chair of the College Democrats.