College Democrats President Seth D. Hanlon '98 said Kerry has verbally committed to speak at Harvard this fall.

Republican Catherine D. Rucker '99 said "Lots of people say they're going to vote for Clinton and [Gov. William F. Weld' 66]. He's the moderate they'd like in Washington."

Rucker said Bay State women would swing behind Weld because he has appointed "more women in his cabinet than any other governor."

In an interview with The Crimson, Stephanopoulos said Clinton will make several stops in Massachusetts to drum up support for Kerry in this pivotal Senate race.

When the President speaks at a Kerry fundraiser at the Fleet Center this Saturday, he will link the moderate Weld with more conservative Congressional Republicans, Stephanopolous said.

U.S. Rep. Barney M. Frank '61-'62 (D-Mass.) said "Bill Weld does well when we forget that we're talking about the United States Senate."

Most local news outlets covered the event, as did reporters from the New Republic and MTV.

While pseudo-anchor Tabitha Soren was not on hand, the MTV "Choose or Lose" bus sat prominently in the MAC parking lot, drawing inquistive stares from passersby.

Its 45-foot-long exterior, brightly pained with quotations from musicians and politicians, implored students to vote. Its interior, with yellow-and black-striped floor carpeting, red shaggy walls and a golden brass trim, housed a production studio.

Dave Anderson, tour manager, credited MTV for raising voting rates among voters ages 18-25, noting the station runs frequent get-out-the-vote commercials featuring celebrities such as Madonna, REM and Pearl Jam.

"People are listening to the issues, and if popular culture is bringing them in, so be it," he said, disagreeing with criticism that MTV trivializes polities with its preference for pop culture over in-depth analysis.

"Look at the voter turnout rate in this country. Beggars can't be choosers," he said.

HYPE '96 organizers stressed the event was non-partisan. But some students, particularly those carrying "Dole/Kemp" signs, complained of a liberal bias.

They pointed out that the event's final four speakers were all Democrats, and Stephanopoulos' entire speech was promoting Clinton.

"Susan Weld was about the only Republican here, and all the Democrats were partisan, except Bob Reich," said Thomas B. Cotton '99.