DURHAM, N.C. — The children of Democratic presidential and vice presidential hopefuls John Kerry and John Edwards are in North Carolina Tuesday to appeal to college students.

Kerry's stepson and daughter, Andre Heinz and Vanessa and Alex Kerry, joined Edwards' daughter, Cate Edwards, for a rally at North Carolina Central University in Durham. Because of their youth, they said they can relate to the issues facing young people today.

On Tuesday, they talked about the need for more grants and financial aid opportunites for college students. They also touched on jobs and the need to create better-paying jobs in North Carolina.

The group also discussed a Kerry-Edwards proposal to reduce the cost of an education in exhange for doing community service.

"If you give two years of your time doing things like teaching/mentoring at-risk kids, you'll get four years in state tuition paid for in full by the government," said Andre Heinz.

They told the crowd their fathers would make sure there is affordable health care for everyone. The goal of the back-to-school tour is to get more campus coeds involved in the political process to get them registered to vote.

"You all on this campus can make a difference. You all in this state can make a difference," said Vanessa Kerry.

The group spoke at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and East Carolina. The tour is also heading to Virginia and West Virginia.

First daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush have taken a more active role in this year's campaign. Both have been criss-crossing the country, attending fund-raisers with their parents. The pair will take part in the Youth Convention Wednesday in Madison Square Garden.