Warren targets student voters at BU rally

U.S. senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren is attempting to mobilize the youth vote, commencing with her rally at Boston University’s Morse Auditorium Saturday.

Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick and Congressman Mike Capuano joined Warren as they encouraged students and local supporters to cast their ballot in November.

The rally, which was organized in part by the BU College Democrats, filled the auditorium with more than 800 attendees. The rally marks the start of Warren’s fall campaign.

In her speech, Warren focused on the notion of investing in the nation’s future, citing the road infrastructures, communication advancements and economic growth in the 20th century.

“We came out of the Great Depression, and what did we do as a people? We invested in ourselves, we invested in our kids, we invested in our future,” Warren said. “Why? We didn’t know what the next great business would be, we didn’t know who would start it, but we were pretty sure you were going to need to plug in when you did.”

Megan Beck, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she attended the rally because the Harvard University professor focused on her issues.

“I heard her speak at the Democratic Convention and really liked her,” Beck said. “She put into words everything that I believe in.”

Julie Edwards, Elizabeth Warren for Senate press secretary, said young people have a lot at stake in the upcoming election.

“Elizabeth Warren has fought for middle-class families to provide a level playing field so that everyone has a shot at success,” she said. “This is a clear difference with Scott Brown, who all too often has stood on the side of big corporations and billionaires and even voted twice against keeping student loan interest rates low.”

Mobilizing students was the goal of the rally for the BU College Democrats, who were registering students to vote as they waited in line.

CAS senior Margarita Diaz, a member of the organization, said students are the most under-mobilized group of voters in the country and that she hoped Warren’s words inspired BU students.

“Like Democrats believe, I cannot do this on my own. I need you — we need Elizabeth Warren,” Capuano, who represents Somerville, said.

Capuano’s attendance was a sign of his endorsement of Warren, said Alison Mills, the congressman’s press secretary.

Capuano is on the campaign trail, seeking to win the 7th district, which comprises Somerville, in the redrawn districts.

Patrick, who introduced Warren after speaking highly of her consistency when the cameras are on and off, formally endorsed Warren in May.

A number of students said they saw the rally as an opportunity to scope out the candidates. CAS junior Kayla Doyle, an undecided voter, said she was leaning toward voting for Warren, but that the issue of partisanship made her wary.

“[Scott] Brown seems very willing to work with both sides, but she [Warren] hasn’t said anything about that yet,” Doyle said.

Throughout their speeches, Capuano, Patrick and Warren named Todd Akin, Mitch McConnell, Brown and other Republican leaders who they say are examples of the bad side of the GOP.

“The vision of my Republican opponent and the Republican party can be boiled down to this — I got mine. The rest of you are on your own,” Warren said, eliciting boos from the audience.

Over the last week, the Brown campaign has criticized Warren for going negative, saying in a press release that it is “a sign of desperation from an increasingly desperate and flailing campaign.”

The Brown campaign did not answer requests to comment further.

Partisanship aside, Warren still has a ways to go before the Nov. 6 election. She and Brown remain in a dead heat with close to 50 days of campaigning left, according to recent polls.

Doyle said that while she thought Warren did a good job at the rally, she remains undecided.

“I think the debates are going to help me decide,” she said.

The first of Brown and Warren’s four debates will take place Thursday on WBZ-TV with host Jon Keller.