Iowa State received a dose of Hollywood glamour with a visit Saturday from actors and married couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.

Moore and Kutcher held a “Vote Early for Change” rally for the presidential candidate Barack Obama’s statewide campaign Obama Iowa Campaign for Change. Iowa State was just one stop as the couple also held rallies at Grinnell College, Cornell College and the University of Northern Iowa.

Moore, best known for her performances in “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Ghost” and “A Few Good Men,” said she was in awe of the crowd that filled the atrium of College of Design and couldn’t believe so many people came to hear them “speak about our passion for Obama.” 

This is the first time she has campaigned for a candidate. She said she was inspired to do something after seeing motivated young people.

Kutcher and Moore touched on an array of issues such as how students can affect the election and the current presidency.

The two recounted a conversation they had with Obama prior to his decision to run for president. In the conversation, Kutcher, an Iowa native, said he was moved when Obama told them he’d have to discuss his decision to run for president with his wife and daughters. He said he feels Obama can take philosophies such as this and use it on a global level to make “a great nation”

The “That ’70s Show” actor talked about how his family has been affected during the current Bush administration. As a school teacher, Kutcher’s sister does not receive health care. 

“My niece became a statistic,” Kutcher said. “She became one of 9 million who don’t have health care.”

The two emphasized the importance of voting early and encouraging others to vote. 

“Winning is the effect, but you all have to be the cause,” he said. 

Making others aware of the candidates is another point they discussed.

“It’s our responsibility to educate [people who don’t want to vote] and explain both sides,” Kutcher said. 

Iowa is also important in the election since it is a swing state, the husband and wife said.

“We can be the cause and take Iowa to a red, white and blue state for Barack Obama,” Kutcher said.

Students came to hear what the pair had to say and out of curiosity.

Saturday’s rally was a first for Amanda Hood, graduate in art and design.

“I’ve never been to a political rally before,” she said. The rally was in a convenient place, since Hood’s classes are in the Design Building.

Zachary Ford, graduate in educational leadership and policy studies, came to the rally to hear what the actors had to say.

Ford said attention needs to be given to local candidates, such as Becky Greenwald, a Democrat running for the U.S. House of Representatives. 

“I don’t think people understand the importance of local candidates,” Ford said.

Decisions made in Ames and Iowa have an impact on students too, he said.