Smith and Chapa say they have also tried to target first-years and have been going dorm to dorm, offering handshakes and campaign literature.

Ernani J. Dearaujo ’03, their campaign manager, says he thinks Smith and Chapa are “winning the freshmen” thanks to this aggressive focus.

Dearaujo says that in past years, the support of first-year council representatives has been a key factor in the race.

Of 10 first-years endorsing a ticket on the council, Smith and Chapa have three supporting them.

Of the seven others, five are endorsing Chopra and two are neutral.

But Smith says that this does not mean Chopra will win the most first-year votes.

“Our freshman supporters are a lot more excited than Rohit’s,” Smith says. “The new indicator is that when we knock on doors, folks want to put our signs up. There are certain places in the Yard where you walk in and go, ‘This entryway is going to Fred.’”

Ian W. Nichols ’06, a first-year council member, says he chose to endorse Smith because “he has the best ideas, the most reasonable ideas, and he’s just really concerned about students.”

Smith and Chapa say they must also overcome the tacit endorsement of Chopra by council President Sujean S. Lee ’03 and Vice President Anne M. Fernandez ’03.

But Smith says their endorsement by three first-year council representatives shows they still have a chance to win.

“It’s kind of common knowledge that Sujean supports Rohit,” Smith says. “As a result of that, it was courageous for that many freshmen to step forward for us.”