CURRENT AGE: 18
YOUNG POLITICAL ACTIVIST: HO-HO-KUS, N.J.
Four years ago, Conor Rogers saw a need for political volunteers and created the New Jersey Teenage Republican Organization (http://www.njtars.org/) to mobilize young people. Though it started out as a school club, it expanded to serve the county and then the state.
Conor’s organization, which is entirely student-run, mobilizes young people ages 14-18 to form a volunteer base for all kinds of Republican campaigns, including local, state and national races. Earlier this year, some members went to Florida to campaign for Republican hopeful Rudy Guiliani. Efforts now are focused on the McCain campaign, where members are manning phone banks across the state.
Conor has always been interested in politics and plans to go to The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. "Next year will be the first year in history that I’m not a part of the organization,” he said. “So it’ll be definitely different.”
What was campaigning in Florida like?
That was a good experience. It was probably the best one that we’ve had as an organization. It was a lot of fun, a real hands-on campaign experience and stuff like that.What advice would you give to other kids who want to get politically involved?
I would say if you want to be a leader, get a group of kids together. Volunteer. That’s the first place to start. Give the support your party needs to win, and the party will support you back.
If you could pass any piece of legislation, what would it be?
I would definitely fix the tax system. There needs to be major legislation that fixes the budget, everything from taxes to Social Security.
Who do you predict will win the election and why?
John McCain. I think the Democrats are going to have a split convention, and I think that’s going to help the Republicans. I think Hillary Clinton’s going to win the states heading into the convention, which is going to leave Barack Obama wounded.
Hillary Clinton would unify the conservative base against her. There’s a lot of concern about the conservatives not coming out for John McCain. With Hillary Clinton as a nominee, they would certainly come out. A lot of people who are moderate Democrats who are turned off by her style will vote for McCain.
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