CEDAR FALLS - Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore don't need to worry about making ends meet.

Both celebrities have their pick of acting roles and endorsement deals.

But the couple said that doesn't mean they've been insulated from the problems they attribute to the policies of George W. Bush and the Republican party. Kutcher's sister, an Iowa public school teacher, is unable to pay for her daughter's health insurance. His brother, employed at a 401K management company, struggles to finance his son's childcare.

"Barack Obama is going to change that," said Kutcher, a Cedar Rapids native who went on to highlight parts of Obama's health care, teacher incentive and tax plans. "…That's why I believe in Barack Obama."

The "That '70s Show" star and his Emmy-nominated wife spent Friday and Saturday stumping for the Democratic presidential candidate at Iowa colleges. At the University of Northern Iowa, Kutcher and Moore urged students to vote early and to spend Election Day getting their peers to the polls.

"You've got to vote," Moore urged the crowd of roughly 630 people. "The last election was won by 10,000 votes. You are going to make the difference, as cliched as that sounds."

The celebrity pair said they support Obama because they think he won't be swayed by special interest groups. They spent 30 minutes talking about Obama's views, and urged the crowd to research the issues on their own and educate their friends.

"To anyone who's undecided, I'm not here to change your mind or make you decide one way or the other, because that's your decision," he said. "We just want to tell you why we feel like Barack Obama is the best candidate for the job."

Celebrity appeal in part accounted for Saturday's large turnout, said Melissa Mitchell, a Waterloo volunteer with the Obama campaign.

"But just by being here (audience members) get a chance to hear the message," she said. "And hopefully, after they learn more, they'll vote Obama."

UNI students will have a chance to cast an early ballot next month. Polls will open in Maucker Union Oct. 14-16 and Oct. 21-23.

"This is a swing state, and we need you," Kutcher told the crowd. "If you live here nine months out of the year, you are an Iowa resident."

Campaign members registered students to vote at the rally and handed out information about the candidate. State democratic legislators Doris Kelley, Bob Kressig and Jeff Danielson also spoke to the crowd.

Independent voter Chico Jordan, of Waterloo, said the issues discussed at the event strengthened his decision to vote for Obama.

"I think that both of the candidates would offer some degree of change, but Obama's the person that provides the most promise," said the 24-year-old. "It's like they said, how can you possibly get something different from a Republican candidate?"

Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.