WATERLOO -- Every presidential candidate loves to talk about immigration, education and job creation these days.

But to Miriam Guel, a 16-year-old sophomore at West High School, these subjects really hit home. Not only is she Latino, but in two years she'll choose a college and eventually enter the work force.

Guel is convinced U.S. Sen. Barack Obama best represents her interests and future. Though too young to vote, Guel said she can still make a difference. She volunteered at Obama's town hall meeting Saturday at Hoover Middle School, handing out campaign literature and urging people to caucus for Obama on Jan. 3.

The Democrat made several campaign promises that pertain to Guel and about 300 other people filling the school's auditorium. If elected, Obama would fight to offer $4,000 refundable tax credits to make college more affordable in exchange for community service, improve border security while not ripping families apart by immediately deporting illegal aliens, and not giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas.

An educated work force means better pay for Americans and more productivity -- all of which benefits the nation's economy, he said.

"That's a bargain for the American people," Obama said, referring to investing in education. "You should expect to send kids to college even if you're not rich. I don't want to see young people in the streets instead of college."

That sounds good to Guel. In her mind, Obama is the only presidential candidate speaking honestly about the future and ideas to help her generation.

Her activism doesn't stop in a heated school. Guel plans to go door-to-door stumping for Obama as well.

"I heard him say he wants to help young people stand out and have a future. I haven't heard that from any other candidate," Guel said.

"For Latinos, he talks of giving a lot of opportunities for jobs … and helping people with health care," she added. "He has a lot of different ideas."

Obama said every Democratic candidate, for the most part, has a good plan for improving health care. He wants to provide every American the same type of medical coverage afforded those in Congress. If people are already paying for medical coverage, they'll pay less.

For people using the presidential election to end the Iraq war, Obama said he's their candidate, pledging to bring troops home within 16 months of taking office.

Though the mostly Obama-loving crowd was very boisterous, often cheering after every political point, the Illinois senator still asked how many people were undecided.

Dozens of hands went up.

Obama said a vote for him will give America a fighting chance to solve problems -- like the ballooning deficit and failed foreign policy -- that the Bush administration has only made worse.

"If you caucus for me Jan. 3, we just won't win an election, but transform a country," Obama said.

Toy safety

Obama called for greater enforcement of toy safety laws at a news conference in the school's band room prior to the campaign appearance.

"The safety laws aren't being enforced, and many Americans, including many children, are paying the price. This has to stop," Obama said, flanked by a number of local families for photographers.

"I know the families here today and millions of other Americans" share the concern, he said.

With Christmas just around the corner, Obama made the comments following a succession of nationwide toy recalls due to lead content and safety considerations.

He focused on toys imported from China, and said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is not doing its job. He said most are Chinese products.

Obama, who has two girls ages 6 and 9, said he was speaking on the issue as a father as well as a candidate.

"Ten days from now, when they wake up (on Christmas), they'll start ripping open presents faster than (wife) Michelle or I can get downstairs," he said "This isn't about what toys necessarily give our children the most joy, but also a question of what toys are safe to give them."

As a state senator in Illinois, Obama said he led the fight to protect children from lead poisoning. It's a cause he carried to the U.S. Senate.

The presidential candidate provided several proposals to improve toy safety:

-- The U.S. needs to have inspectors on site in China, as Japanese officials do for food safety inspections.

-- Obama said he would drastically increase fines for toy companies not abiding by the rules.

-- Expand the Consumer Product Safety Commission's regulatory powers and establish mandatory inspections to ensure imported toy safety. He said the commission is understaffed, and wants to double its funding.

-- Work directly with China and the World Trade Organization on the issue.

Obama said he introduced a bill in the Senate to ban any toy with more than trace amounts of lead from being imported or placed on the market.

"It's a bill I intend to sign into law when I'm president," he said. "I challenge the Bush administration and toy companies to do a better job protecting our children."

Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.