By the time you read this, Seward resident David Gilbert-Pederson, 17, will have recently returned from the Democratic National Convention in Denver, the youngest delegate at the event. David will turn 18 by November, so he is eligible to serve as a delegate.

A precocious political campaigner and an accomplished public speaker, David has attracted a great deal of media attention, including a spot in Time magazine. David said that, while he’s proud to represent Minnesota Democrats at the convention, the most important work he has to do is here at home, working to help elect Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

His favorite campaign work, he said, is knocking on doors and talking to voters. “That’s what really works,” he said, “when you go door-to-door and talk to your neighbors and tell them why you’re excited about a candidate. That can really tip people’s decisions, when a neighbor they know and respect tells them why they believe in a candidate.”

last revised: August 29, 2008

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