Students are “fortunate” to have a hand in this year’s historic presidential election, Ralph Reed, a University alumnus and a conservative political activist, said Wednesday night.

“This is the most exciting election that I’ve witnessed in my life,” said Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Century Strategies, a public relations firm for Fortune 500 companies. He spoke at Wednesday’s College Republicans meeting.

“[University students] are very fortunate to have a front row seat to observe history,” he said. “America is dealing with a very competitive, hard fought election that will go down to the wire.”

Though the nation is evenly divided, Georgia is safely in the Republican column, he said.

“Both parties are very energized. This election is unlike previous ones when the Democrats were fired up and the Republicans were asleep.”

Reed said Democrats, who have a turnout advantage, will benefit from the intensity of the election and are playing on America’s top concerns – the economy, war in Iraq and health care.

“Wall Street is in poor condition and the stock market just experienced a dramatic drop,” he said. “Americans are seeing trillions of dollars of wealth go up in smoke. That anxiety benefits the Democrats.”

Reed, who was a staff writer for The Red & Black and chairman for the College Republicans in 1980, said the election is about changing the direction of the country.

“I attended (the lecture) because I’m interested in public speaking,” said Daniel Brettschneider, a junior from Marietta and Demosthenian Literary Society president. “Regardless of his political stance, Dr. Reed is an orator and masterful organizer of people.”