Local volunteers for Sen. Barack Obama?s (D-Ill.) presidential campaign are stepping up their efforts to spread the senator?s message as New York?s Feb. 5 primary nears.

Obama has brought Long Islanders young and old out to supermarkets, street corners and phone banks. However, it?s some of the younger supporters that are most excited about the prospects of an Obama presidency.

?He's young like us. He?s smart like us,? 28-year-old Susannah Mrazek, of Huntington, said. ?He's able to speak to the things that we care most about, which is obviously the war in Iraq, which is killing people our age.?

Minority voters from Long Island are also getting involved. A group of Caribbean-Americans who support Obama recently got together in Freeport to talk about their cause.

Leg. Jon Cooper (18th District), Obama's local campaign manager, said the wave of support is rare, but speaks to Americans? need for unity.

To watch an extended interview with Leg. Cooper, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.