Republican student groups at UF have joined forces to support Republican presidential candidate front-runner John McCain while Democratic groups remain split as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton stay neck and neck.
There wasn't much support for McCain on campus until recently, but student groups that previously backed other Republican candidates are moving to the McCain camp, said Ben Grove, UF's College Republicans chairman.
"There's really no chance for anyone else but him to be the nominee," he said.
During the past few weeks, members with Gators for McCain have been talking with College Republicans members about ways to work together, Grove said. The two groups decided to conduct joint fundraising and plan to promote McCain through phone solicitation and door-to-door campaigning beginning this summer or early fall, he said.
"We'll work together extremely closely," he said.
While the Democratic Party is still split between candidates, UF's College Democrats have not been able to get involved in the national election. "At this point we can't be partisan for either side," said Mark McShera, the group's editorial chair.
The organization will start campaigning once a nominee is picked, McShera said.
Gators for Hillary and UF Students for Barack Obama communicate with the College Democrats but remain completely independent from it, he said.
Despite political differences, supporters for both parties' candidates maintain that it's a friendly competition. The College Democrats and College Republicans have even planned to compete in a charity kickball tournament.
"Basically it's just a friendly rivalry until it gets too serious, closer to the election," Grove said.
