NORMAL - The youth vote, as predicted, appears to have been a factor in Barack Obama's White House win. But whether Obama can transfer that energy into participation during his presidency remains unclear.

At the two main precincts for voters living in Illinois State University dorms, roughly seven of every 10 votes went to Obama.

"As college students we have a point of view that's fresh and young. Obama seems to appeal to that. And the Bush administration wasn't accessible or interested in us. In the end, (John) McCain was seen as an extension of that," said Ben Doessel, an ISU junior from McHenry.

Or as Illinois Wesleyan University student Donny Swager, a 22-year-old from Lincolnshire put it: "Most students associated Obama with change, even though they couldn't always back up why he represented change. But the Bush administration's record tainted McCain's chances of winning."

Early national numbers tell a similar story: CIRCLE, a Maryland-based research group focusing on youth civic engagement, says the 18- to 24-year-old set preferred Obama to McCain by a 2-1 margin.

The research group reports that age bracket cast 22 million to 24 million votes in Tuesday's historic election, or somewhere from 1 percent to 6 percent more than in the 2004 election.

Evidence of Obama's appeal erupted in Normal on Tuesday night when news of his win drew an estimated 3,000 cheering ISU students out to the campus quad and nearby streets for late-night revelry.

Molly Souk, 22, of Normal was one of the ISU students out late.

She'd volunteered an average of 30 hours a week this year campaigning for Obama. She said scores of college students like herself knocked on doors, called voters and organized events.

"His message is for the country to work together. That's what we need," she said.

But whether Obama can harness that political energy and keep youths actively engaged throughout his term remains to be seen.

"All presidents come with high expectations," said Lane Crothers, who teaches courses on politics and government at Illinois State University.

"But, there's any number of possibilities" for how Obama's youth appeal will play out, he said.

Obama successfully tapped into a generation that's been raised in an education system that bolsters volunteerism, he said. "He's manifesting that right now," Crothers said.

But the economic crisis means that as these youths head into careers, they'll find themselves worried about jobs - reducing their time for social and civic causes, he said.

Obama's proposals for some volunteer national service could help, said Crothers.

"Really it's too early to tell," said Jordan Parmenter, who, along with fellow Heartland Community College student Anthony Harrison talked Wednesday about their Obama votes.

Voting was a simple way for his generation to be involved, but he doubts youth will stay active now that Obama's won. His friend agreed: "Maybe people will say 'Mission accomplished'" and walk away, said Harrison.