NEW YORK, NY September 08, 2008 —New York voters are set to go to the polls in primary elections tomorrow. In Brooklyn, writer and activist Kevin Powell, who first made a name for himself on the MTV's The Real World, is running for Congress against Representative Ed Towns.

Campaigning in East New York yesterday, Powell said his tough upbringing and run-ins with the law help him connect with younger voters in the district.

POWELL: They'll say things like, you know man, you don't understand my life. I'll say do you have a father, they'll say no, I'll say I don't have a father either. You ever been arrested? Yes, well I've been arrested too. You find those kind of connection points and what I say to them - you don't have to get stuck in that situation.

REPORTER: Powell says there is much greater interest from young voters this year because of Barack Obama's candidacy. A spokesperson for Towns said the congressman is unlikely to face much of a challenge this time because Powell is not an elected official, whereas in 2006 Towns faced Councilman Charles Barron and Assemblyman Roger Green.