Dave Matthews hopes concert will inspire voters to support Obama

By EMILY UDELL, Associated Press Writer

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Apr 4, 2008 at 9:55 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 4, 2008 at 9:55 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Singer Dave Matthews says he hopes his free concert in Bloomington will encourage young people to vote and to consider casting their ballots for Sen. Barack Obama.

"He is by far the most inspiring candidate we've had in the American political system in decades, and that's why I'm coming to do this concert for him," Matthews said in a phone interview. "He empowers people not to be consumers but to be participants."

The 41-year-old singer, who is scheduled to perform Sunday in Bloomington with guitarist Tim Reynolds, said he is talking to the Illinois senator about participating in further events targeting young voters after this weekend's debut concert for the campaign.

"It's telling that more young people are interested in this presidential race than they have in a long time," he said. "I think we should take notice."

The campaign of Obama's rival Hillary Rodham Clinton has also targeted Indiana college voters with appearances by her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, at campuses across the state. Hillary Clinton and former president Bill Clinton have also visited.

Obama and Clinton are vying for 72 delegates in Indiana's May 6 primary.

Matthews, who was born in South Africa and spent time living England during his childhood, said he admires Clinton but supports Obama because he inspires Americans to take part in the political process and agrees with many of the presidential hopeful's policies.

"Having grown up a Quaker, his view of the war is one that I share," he said. "It will go down as one of the country's biggest blunders."

Matthews has had numerous hits with his Dave Matthews Band, which was among the top 10 North American concert draws in 2006.

Kevin Griffis, a spokesman for Obama's campaign in Indiana, said 13,500 tickets for the concert at Indiana University's Assembly Hall were handed out on Thursday by staffers in Bloomington, Indianapolis and Lafayette.

Other Obama efforts to build buzz among younger voters in Indiana include the chance for high school and college students — after registering enough new voters for the May 6 primary — to play basketball with the senator.

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