Isle donation becomes the millionth for Obama

UH student is millionth donor to Obama's campaign

A University of Hawaii student carrying $90,000 worth of college loans became the millionth donor to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama yesterday.

Obama's campaign headquarters called to congratulate Zachary Ellison, 21, who chipped in $25.

"It made me feel proud and excited," Ellison said. "It was a pretty cool thing, but a lot of people are working harder than me."

Sen. Barack Obama got some help from his home state as Hawaii resident Zachary Ellison became the millionth person to donate to the Illinois Democrat's presidential campaign.

Ellison, a 21-year old University of Hawaii student, was surfing the Obama Web site Wednesday and noticed that the counter for donations was nearing 1 million.

After sending in a $25 donation, Ellison was called yesterday by the national Obama campaign to thank him for the donation and tell him he was the millionth person to donate.

"It made me feel proud and excited," Ellison said. "It was a pretty cool thing, but a lot of people are working harder than me.

"I guess I'm one of those weird young people who actually believes in politics. I've made political donations before. I gave to Gov. Howard Dean four years ago while I was in high school," Ellison said.

The former California resident said he had moved to Hawaii to help his father and stepmother and to save money. He works at a grocery story to help pay the bills.

After attending Reed College in Oregon, Ellison has taken out $90,000 in student loans, so he is interested in Obama's plans to help fund college tuition in return for volunteering in service projects.

"I think he is the right man at the right time," Ellison said.

The campaign for Hillary Clinton, who is battling Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, says the New York senator has raised more than $35 million this month.