“There is a lot of excitement for Senator Edwards on college campuses,” said Sye, who noted that Edwards’ “College for Everyone” plan, under which the federal government would fund the first year’s tuition at public universities for students who work at least 10 hours per week, has resonated with younger voters.

The throngs of Harvard students seeking tickets for Edwards’ IOP appearance far dwarfs the crowd of around 200 students that attended Edwards’ Oct. 6 address at the University of New Hampshire.

“This is a sign that Harvard students are really engaged in the political process,” Sye said.

Edwards will return to New Hampshire Monday night in preparation for his slated visit to Dartmouth College on Tuesday, Sye said.

A Zogby International poll of likely New Hampshire primary voters released in late September indicated that Edwards’ support in that state measured an anemic 2 percent.

In South Carolina, a crucial early primary state, Edwards has surged to the front of the pack in the past month, with a late September poll by the American Research Group showing Edwards holding a 9 percentage point lead over his closest rivals, Lieberman and Clark.