While some Hillary Clinton enthusiasts are still deciding whom to vote for in November's general election, Penn for Hillary has thrown its support behind Barack Obama.
"We decided over the summer that we would try to fold into Penn Dems and Penn for Obama," said Penn for Hillary co-chairwoman and College senior Julie Siegel, who is the former Spin editor for The Daily Pennsylvanian.
"If we tried to exist on our own it would go against party unity, which is what Hillary wants and therefore what we want," added Siegel, who is now the deputy women's vote coordinator for the Obama campaign in Pennsylvania.
Penn for Hillary sent an e-mail last week to its members that provided contact information for Penn Democrats, Penn for Obama and the Obama campaign in Philadelphia.
However, Penn for Hillary did not give Penn Dems or Penn for Obama access to its listserv. "We didn't want to violate anyone's privacy or put anyone on a listserv they didn't want to be on," Siegel said.
Penn for Hillary also wants to hold "some kind of event where we would be coming together for Obama," said College senior Annie Friedman, the other Penn for Hillary co-chairwoman.
Penn for Hillary's merge with the Penn Dems and Penn for Obama is "such a good testament to the fact that Hillary and Obama have a lot of similar policies," said Penn Dems President Lauren Burdette, who e-mailed the leadership of Penn for Hillary over the summer.
But not all members of Penn for Hillary are ready to vote for Obama.
College junior Ried Niziak, a member of Penn for Hillary, is not supporting either candidate.
"I get yelled at a lot for this," said Niziak, who said he "liked that Hillary had the experience" and agreed with her views.
Niziak, who said he is fiscally conservative and socially liberal, said that neither candidate's choice of running mate has made his decision easier.
"I might have gone toward Obama if he picked Hillary because I really liked her health care plan and it would likely be passed if she was in the White House," he said.
Despite the fact that he does not support Obama, Niziak said he thought Penn for Hillary's decision to merge with pro-Obama groups was a good one "because most people in Penn for Hillary would be Obama supporters."
"At no point did I feel pressured to do anything for Penn Dems," he added.
The College Republicans have plans to reach out to Penn for Hillary leadership, but have not yet done so, according to College Republicans President and College junior Zac Byer.
"I encourage Penn for Hillary people who haven't made up their mind to read about McCain and get in touch with me and Penn for McCain," Byer said.
