This year’s Democratic presidential primary is shaping up to be an epic fight between Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) and the Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) — and NCCU students and faculty are watching the contest closely.

This is the first time in history either a woman or an African American have been viable presidential candidates.

SGA president Tomasi Larry said he is hopeful for an Obama victory in the Jan. 26 South Carolina Democratic primary, despite Obama’s loss in New Hampshire.

“People are listening to what he has to say,” said Larry. “I’ve kind of been mellow about the whole thing.”

The political science and history senior said he believes in his policies and feels that Obama is making positive strides toward presidency.

Though Obama is not the first black to run for president, being preceded by Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988, and Al Sharpton in 2004, Larry credits Obama for coming closer to being president while serving as an influential role model.

“Barack Obama is sending the message that all African-American men are not apathetic or misguided,” said Larry.

“This can be the catalyst that can change the ideology of African-American males.”

Larry said this election will be monumental not only because of Obama’s race and Clinton’s gender, but because of the issues at hand concerning immigration, the economy and the war.

“There are a lot of things causing people to get involved,” said Larry.

Associate history professor Jim Harper said this election in particular, is opening the eyes of more young Americans and causing them to be more active in the political process.

“Obama’s presence is going to energize African-American voters, especially young voters, to register to vote and to find out more about presidential candidates, where they stand, what their policies are,” said Harper.

He said if John Edwards moves up in the South Carolina primary, it could change Americans’ perspectives again about who could potentially be president.

“I would like to see how close the elections are going to be,” said Harper.

“It’s a different kind of thinking down South.”

He hears more discussion buzzing around campus even in his class as proof that more youth and students are becoming politically inclined.

But Harper would like to see more campus organizations focus on encouraging young voters to participate in the upcoming elections.

More than 525,000 voters took to the polls last Tuesday in New Hampshire for the first primary of the 2008 presidential candidacy — one that some regard as historic.

Many, including pollsters, presumed Obama would win based on his win in the Iowa caucuses.

“They said this day would never come; they said our sights were set too high,” said Obama during his Iowa victory speech.

“We are one nation. We are one people and our time for change has come.”

Obama emphasized that many political figures believe money and influence are what control the country.

But Obama says he wants to take the country back.

“We are sending a powerful message that change is coming to America,” he said. “The time has come for presidents who will be honest.”

Yet, it was Clinton who swayed New Hampshire voters and slowed Obama’s momentum.

Sen. Hillary Clinton received 39 percent of the votes, placing her above all other Democratic candidates.

Obama came in a close second with 37 percent.

“Let’s give America the type of comeback New Hampshire has just given me,” said Clinton after her victory in New Hampshire.

After assessing the potential for America‘s problems to spin out of control, Hillary said that “this is one of the most important elections America has ever faced.”

Both Clinton and Obama want to address the nation’s economic downturn and increase accessibility to healthcare.

On the Republican side, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won the New Hampshire primary with 37 percent, while former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney trailed behind with 31 percent — a six-point increase from his showing in the Iowa caucuses.