Mayor Cory A. Booker, 38, Democratic politician and current mayor of Newark, N.J.,visited N.C. Central University March 29 at the Alfonso Elder Student Union with acrowd of close to 45 students and community members.

While in Durham, Booker also spoke earlier in the afternoon at both the annual convention of the Young Democrats of North Carolina and the unveiling of Durham’s Obama for America office, located at 112 West Main St.

During his speech, Booker expressed his avid support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and addressed the importance of voting in the presidential election.

According to Booker, this year's election is an example of a “massive paradigm shift” that is happening in America. He compared this election to such movements in American history as civil rights and women’s suffrage.

“…There’s something that has happened the last 10 to 15 years in politics that’s become so divisive, so rancorous, so polarizing,” said Booker.

“I’m more encouraged by this campaign than any I can remember because it is really marking, not only the themes that Obama talks about, but finding a way to resonate with voters that are most critical and have the most at stake in this campaign.”

Booker, who is close friends with Obama, said that although there are two other good candidates in the race for the presidency, he feels that Obama is a “paradigm-shifting leader.”

“He has the ability to pull people together,” said Booker. “He’s getting more Independents to support him, more Republicans to support him and energizing young voters like never before.”

Booker also talked about his own life. He recalled moments from his college years at Stanford University when he mentored youth in the troubled city of East Palo Alto, Ca.

He also described starting a free legal clinic for low-income residents in New Haven, N.J., after graduating from Yale Law School in 1997.

Booker was elected mayor of Newark in July 2006, beating out his opponent, Ronald Rice with 72 percent of the vote. He is currently the third person to govern the city since 1970.

Elementary education sophomore Sade Dunston said despite the low turnout of students, she was delighted to see a prominent figure in politics come and give his outlook on this year's presidential election.

“I wish more students would have heard him speak,” said Dunston. “He came with a very humble approach and didn’t let his status as a politician get in the way of the message.”

Dunston is a member of The Obama Squad in North Carolina, a student grassroots organization whose primary goal is to spread awareness of Obama’s campaign on campus and register students to vote.

Currently, the Facebook group has 570 members, but Dunston said only a handful are active members.

“There’s a lot at stake in this election,” Dunston said. “It’s hard sometimes to get students involved because of the assumption that politics is filled with nothing but deceit and scandals. Plus, many students feel as if voting will not thoroughly solve the problems that Americans are facing right now.”

Dunston said she hopes Booker’s speech gave momentum to those who continue to rally behind Obama’s campaign and also to those who were apathetic about the entire election.

“I’m just hoping that all the students look past the trivial things with each candidate and focus on the real issues,” said Dunston.

Booker said, “…People living in North Carolina, people living in Durham, have the ability to impact, not just their own state or community, but the entire nation therefore the globe.”

“To not be an activist during this time between now and May 6 to me is simply a travesty.”

In a University-wide e-mail sent April 3 by Chancellor Charlie Nelms, he said that he wants to challenge NCCU students, faculty and staff to go out and get registered to vote.

North Carolina’s 2008 Democratic Primary is on May 6. The last day to register to vote in North Carolina for the presidential election is April 11.