Clinton and Obama Reaching Out to a 21-year-old College Student?

As a junior in college, I studied abroad in Australia, sat through numerous classes and lectures, searched for internships, and prepared for my senior year and post-grad life. Sounds pretty typical, right?

Not for Jason Rae. He is spending his junior year answering phone calls from John Kerry and Bill Clinton and having breakfast with Chelsea Clinton. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin's Marquette University is the youngest member of the Democratic National Committee. As one of the 796 "super delegates," Rae is essentially a free agent and can back anyone in the race for the Democratic nomination.



Rae is not only a unique super delegate because of his age. Being 21 he has never voted in a presidential election, turning 18 after Election Day in 2004. Since the race for the Democratic nomination is so tight, Rae's first vote matters a great deal.

In an interview with Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel, Rae talks about his life as a super delegate:

Bill Clinton called last Friday, just as Rae was headed to dinner with friends, hoping he'd back Hillary. When John Kerry called, suggesting Obama, Rae was driving to the grocery store with a friend.

"I said, 'Hi, Senator Kerry, how are you?' " said Rae, noting his friend "looked at me, like, 'Are you for real?' "

Yes. And for real when former (and possibly future) first daughter Chelsea called. And former Secretary of State Madeline Albright. Both were backing Clinton.

"It's not a huge deal on campus," said Rae, active in student government. "I'm just a normal student like everyone else. In my private life, I'm a super delegate."