The presidential election might be over, but that doesn't mean Penn's on-campus political groups are taking it easy this semester.
Despite shifting their focus off Washington politics, Penn Democrats and Penn College Republicans are both intent on staying active on campus.
According to College Republicans communications director, former Spin blogger and College junior Mike Tate, the group is concentrating on the 2010 U.S. Senate race.
Incumbent Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter will defend his seat and is looking to college Republican groups for help, Tate said.
Last week, Specter met with college groups from all over Philadelphia, including the Penn College Republicans, to ask for advice on how to run his campaign.
Tate said Specter wanted College Republicans to tell him "how to get the young vote."
The prevailing advice given at the meeting was to "focus on new media - Facebook and YouTube," Tate said.
"Step one is get him on Facebook, on MySpace, on YouTube," Tate said. "Step two is getting him to use them."
He added that the Obama campaign's effective use of the Internet caused Republicans to focus more on new media. When it comes to online organization, Tate said, the Republicans "are not at the level they should be."
The College Republicans are working on a date to invite Specter to speak on campus.
Tate said Arizona Senator John McCain's failure to win the presidential election last November had not dampened the College Republicans' spirit.
"We're just as energized and ready to go," he said.
Meanwhile, the Penn Dems are continuing their efforts following last semester's success at the polls and this semester's trip to witness President Barack Obama's inauguration in Washington.
Penn Dems President and College sophomore Jordan Levine, a former Daily Pennsylvanian advertising representative, said all of Penn Dems' "many facets" are moving forward.
While making assurances that Penn Dems have "great things in the works," Levine said the details of the group's activities for the semester have not been finalized at this time
In general, he said, they will be working with Organizing for America, helping with out reach in the West Philadelphia community and "what we've always done to interest the Penn community."
"We're definitely not twiddling our thumbs," he said.
