With the 2004 campaign season in full swing, presidential candidates from both major parties have enlisted family and friends to promote their message.

Chris Heinz is one such promoter, and he’s making a solo stop at Iowa State on Wednesday to stump for his stepfather — Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. He will speak at 10 a.m. in the Cardinal Room of the Memorial Union about Kerry’s educational platform with the intent of mobilizing younger voters.

Heinz quit his job at a private equity firm last year to travel the campaign trail with his stepfather, and he has made a number of stops across Iowa to promote the Democratic platform.

“He’s probably able to speak to college students and the issues they’re facing effectively,” said Colin Van Ostern, spokesman for the Iowa arm of Kerry’s campaign.

The visit is one of many planned for the Kerry campaign, Van Ostern said. Kerry’s two daughters, Vanessa and Alex, are expected to make visits to the state. So is another of Kerry’s stepchildren, Andre Heinz.

“He’s a young, intelligent man,” said Adam Tabor, treasurer of the ISU Democrats, of Chris Heinz. “I think he knows what he’s talking about.”

Tabor said he believes Heinz will be able to connect with a lot of young voters because he’s a young, up-and-coming member of the Democratic party.

With the electorate evenly split, many candidates have relied heavily on family and friends to help stump for votes.

“We’re in the middle of an intensive campaign you’d expect to see later [in the year],” said Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science. “[The candidates] have been visiting Iowa as if they lived here.”

In a message sent out to President Bush supporters, his daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush praised their father and encouraged people to volunteer for the campaign.

“We know that when you get to know his record as President, you too will feel compelled to participate in this year’s election — and hopefully get involved in the campaign, too,” Jenna and Barbara said in the statement.

The president also had his daughters on the trail with him earlier this summer during a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids.

The widespread use of family in campaigns doesn’t bother local political figures, despite the fact that family members may not have any political experience of their own.

“It’s just another aspect of campaigning,” said Erica Carnes, vice president of the ISU Democrats.

“It’s easier for people our age to relate to [Chris Heinz].”

Schmidt said he didn’t believe using candidates who were only tangentially related to the campaign was effective or vital for candidates.

“There isn’t any reason to know anything about Chris Heinz,” Schmidt said. “I don’t think the Bush twins are going to be my source of information about Bush.”

Although it may help reach more voters, Schmidt said, having people like Heinz on the campaign trail adds up to celebrity hype and only relays secondhand information about the candidates.