According to Plants, the appeal of successful conservative candidates is concrete proposals on student services. But that voting bloc is likely to be split this year, since Barkley is opposed by Paul A. Gusmorino III '02, the chair of the Student Activities Committee and driving force behind successful council projects such as UC Books.

Plants says he also wonders if Barkley's student services versus activism pitch is too dated.

"The political battle has been fought and won, and we've struck a good balance [between activism and student services]," Plants says.

Rather than trying to garner the endorsements of specific student groups, Barkley says he hopes to appeal to the student body as a whole.

"We want groups to support us, but not because our agenda is 'pro-debate club' or Republican Club specific," he said.

Nonetheless, Barkley enjoys strong support from conservative students--a group that has been influential in past elections through its manpower.

Robert R. Porter '00-'02, who led Harvard Students for Bush and is a member of the Harvard Republican Club, says that Barkley's "pragmatic, common-sense approach resonates with people" to give him a wider appeal than candidates tied to specific causes or clubs.

The Republican Club, whose dues-paying membership has swelled from 30 to 200 this year, may play a crucial role in the fractious presidential contest, according to Porter.