Today while I was writing one of my articles at the DP office, a fellow beat reporter came into the newsroom and told me that there was someone in the front office looking for a political reporter. A little confused, I followed him into the main office, and he pointed out a man waiting by the door.

I was still a little confused. It’s not often that we get people actually coming into the office with news tips, and this is the first time anyone has asked specifically for a political reporter (that I know of, anyway).

Then, the man proceeded to introduce himself. His name was Ed O’Donnell, and told me he’s running for President of the United States. (more…)

So after spending hours on Columbia’s campus, talking to students, roaming College Walk, and checking out the polling stations in Wein Hall, we had yet to see any substantial proof on campus that Hillary’s campaign actually exists here. After spending time talking to students, voters, and poll workers in Wein Hall, we saw someone wearing a Hillary button!

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It’s 7:15, and less than two hours remain before New York polls close and results start coming in. We’re inside Wein Hall, the polling place for Columbia and Barnard Universities and the surrounding neighborhoods.

About half a block down the street, Columbia senior David Ma is standing on the street, asking every person that passes by, “Have you voted yet?” He holds a large Obama sign and wears an Obama sticker.

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So far, we’ve seen phonebanking, posters, stickers, and a table for Obama. But where are the Students for Hillary? Where have they been all day?

At the polls, I spoke to Mollie Stein, a Barnard sophomore who had been campaigning for Hillary earlier today. She acknowledged the lack of visibility on campus, saying “there hasn’t been that much for Hillary — but just from talking to people, a lot of them are voting for her.” Stein said that from what she has seen, the election in New York “seems like it could go either way,” though she hopes Hillary wins because “she needs to win New York.”

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Right now, we’re in Brooks Hall on Barnard’s campus, where Students for Obama is phonebanking all day. I spoke with the organization’s president here at Columbia, Columbia sophomore Mary McDonald, who outlined the group’s recent activities — phonebanking every night for the past 10 days, having debate-watching parties, participating in the “Walk For Change” for Obama (35 Columbia students attended), setting up tables on College Walk — and expressed hope for the events of today.

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So I’ve been reading an article in Time magazine while I’m on the train — and the statistics in the article are really interesting. According to the magazine’s survey, 74% of young people ages 18-29 say they are paying attention to the presidential campaign, compared to 42% in 2004 and only 13% in 2000. That’s a pretty significant jump.

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Right now, I’m on the train on my way to New York with photographer Aaron Goodman and videographer (and web editor) Albert Sun. We’re in New Jersey and should arrive at Penn Station in a little under an hour.

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I’ll be reporting throughout the day from Columbia University on what students there are doing to get out the vote, and campaign for their candidates.

With 281 delegates at stake, New York is the second-largest prize in the Super Tuesday lineup, and one that is incredibly important to Senator Clinton in her campaign for president. Columbia is part of the 15th congressional district in New York, which includes upper Manhattan and Harlem. The district is represented in Congress by Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel.

Currently, Clinton has a significant lead in New York state. According to RealClearPolitics.com, Clinton leads Obama 53.5 percent to 36.3 percent, a 17.2-point margin. Considering that Clinton is the senator from New York, this lead is to be expected.

Some background on the area surrounding Columbia:

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