Young Republicans Try to Drive Up Turnout in North Carolina CHARLOTTE - Hoping to make a pre-emptive strike on the battleground of North Carolina before the Democrats arrive for their national convention here later this summer, young Republicans from around the country spent part of the weekend in what they called "combat" to take Charlotte for Mitt Romney. "Combat Charlotte" kicked off on Friday, and was billed as an opportunity for young leaders from around the country to knock on doors, help identify swing voters, and to strategize about how Republicans might engage more young adults. "It is so critical that young people get back into the process," said Sarah Reidy, a county chairwoman for the local group, the North Carolina Federation of Young Professional Republicans, a co-host of the event. Turn the state red! Get that win for Romney. Ms. Reidy's remarks amounted to a pep talk during a luncheon in a hotel ballroom on Saturday. The most important point she sought to stress was this: more than 300,000 registered Republicans in North Carolina between 18 to 35 years of age did not vote in the 2008 election, when President Barack Obama won the state. Ms. Reidy was speaking to a core group of the faithful, however, just over 100 or so Republicans under 40 years old. To many participants" disappointment, dozens of young Republicans who were invited to the event did not show up, including college-age contingents from across the country. One Saturday morning session could not go forward for lack of a quorum. Matt Hoagland, 27, an executive recruiter and manager of campaigns from Ashville, N.C., was among those who were concerned about the weekend turnout, and what it might portend for the upcoming election. "There's opportunity in the young crowd to have a little more influence," he said. But people just don't do this type of stuff anymore. I wish they did. Mr. Hoagland said he tried to get young Republicans from his county, Buncombe, to join him on the trip to Charlotte, but he still ended up alone. I told them we'd get a discount rate at the hotel and that there would be booze, and it just didn't work. No matter, Mr. Hoagland and the other young Republicans committed to taking back North Carolina made phone calls and fanned out across Charlotte in white vans with clipboards and Romney campaign literature. They had lunches and dinners together, bonded over cocktails, and listened to speakers, some of whom were local elected officials. "I thought it was important to give up a weekend to be here to help build unity, get in early, break some ground before the Democrats," said Daniel Ruggles, 24, the coastal regional director for the North Carolina Federation of Young Professional Republicans. We can't have Obama for another four years. That's why we're here, battling it out. As for the missing troops? Mr. Ruggles pointed to the economy, and the inability of some underemployed young people to take time-off or spend money for travel. Lisa Stickan, chairwoman of the Young Republican National Federation, said the weekend was successful nonetheless. "We wanted to send a message that in North Carolina, our young Republicans are very active," she said, explaining that some people may not have been in attendance because they were busy with "boots on the ground" already. "Young Republicans are not giving Barack Obama a free pass," said Ms. Stickan, 35. This is a state in play. We understand and appreciate the value of North Carolina.