This summer was a whirlwind of headaches, hopes and heated debate in the world of politics. As Mitt Romney solidified his position as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, President Barack Obama was also making strides towards his hopes of a re-election.

Now, heading into the final months of the election season, both campaigns are lining up their supporters, raising millions of dollars and preparing for an all-out campaign onslaught to elect their party’s presidential candidates. This nationwide electoral push can be seen at Iowa State as the ISU College Democrats hope to recapture Obama’s victory.

“We have big plans,” said Abhishek Vemuri, senior in electrical engineering and president of the College Democrats. “Our focus will be to facilitate the work of the Obama campaign’s campus field officer. For example, this first week we have an event every day, whether that is door knocking, phone banking or tabling; trying to get people to register to vote is a major priority.”

Vemuri and the College Democrats appear to be optimistic about their chances in this year’s election, especially after Obama handily won the Ames area in 2008, which also employs Democratic representatives at the Iowa Legislature.

“Historically, the Ames area has been favorable to Democrats,” Vemuri said. “We have a built-in advantage, especially with the youth vote. … People have been working really hard and we like our chances.”

In regard to the younger demographic vote — especially college students — Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science at Iowa State, agreed that young voters are quickly becoming a more crucial constituency to winning a general election, a constituency which Obama won by a margin of 2-to-1 in 2008.

“Young voters are a growing part of the active electorate, so their potential significance increases every year,” Schmidt said. “In 2012, they are especially significant because this is expected to be a very close election and the turnout will determine who wins.”

The College Democrats appear to be seizing the importance of young voters in helping re-elect Obama in November.

“It’s a right and responsibility to vote,” said Kyle Upchurch, senior in political science, is the team leader for events and fundraising for the College Democrats. “We want our elected officials to hear the voices of young voters, and we need more attention paid to issues that concern us. … This is why we are helping staff a voter registration table every day this week in front of the library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

Despite the optimism from the College Democrats, there is also significant discourse among political pundits and pollsters alike that Obama’s support among young voters has somewhat diminished since 2008. And with more and more young people choosing to be independents than ever before, there is significant speculation as to which side, if any, they choose to lend their support to come November.

“Young voters have very low turnout for a number of reasons, so both parties need to pump up that demographic,” Schmidt said. “Obama did very well in 2008 with young voters, but there is good evidence that they are more unsure this year and that Democrats may not have such an advantage.”

Nevertheless, Vemuri, Upchurch and the College Democrats appear more determined than ever to keep up the support for Obama this year and are making extra efforts to reinforce their bottom line.

“It will be a very close election, but we are confident in our efforts, and ultimately that will prevail over the barrage of money that is coming from the other side,” Vemuri said. “Obama will win the election.”