BY NBC17
RALEIGH, N.C. — Thomas Waltersdorf was almost a yellow blur walking quickly around the Talley Student Union at N.C State. The man wearing a yellow shirt with a “Hillary for President” button is taking a semester off from studying to volunteer for the campaign.

“We are the future; you always hear that about young people,“ said Waltersdorf, as he handed out stickers. “The future is today, and it’s important we take charge of that.”

And campaign organizers say young voters are taking charge of the election, registering and voting in numbers not seen in years of politics. That’s why Chelsea Clinton has made two stops in as many days talking to young voters in the Triangle about her mother, Senator Hillary Clinton. It’s also why Senator Barack Obama’s campaign is launching its own campus voter registration drive.

“I think there’s a big environment for change,” said Evelyn Stahling, who’s not sure who she’s voting for but came to listen to Chelsea’s speech.

“It’s our future on the line, my taxes, my Social Security on the line,” said Tony Howard, another undecided voter at the Clinton rally.

Political scientists estimate there are between 30,000 and 40,000 young voters in North Carolina between the ages of 18 and 24. They are informed, involved, and want to make a difference. And there are enough potential voters to swing an election.

“They’re interested and they’re looking for a candidate or a set of issues to latch onto,” said David Mclennan, a Peace College Professor. “They can be a political force now and in the future.”