| My immediate reaction is YES. But at the same time, it depends what field you want to go into and also if you plan to go to graduate school. I did 3 years of undergrad research, first on a professor's upcoming book in the field of environmental studies, and the next two years for my own purposes in Art History through a research fellowship. I would work with a few professors in Art History but we would be working on my project. Since I plan to go to graduate school in the field I feel the experience is invaluable, especially since recommendations have to be strong and such close contact with professors is nothing but beneficial.
As far as how to get into it, that is hard to say. All of my research was paid really well through research fellowships and the respective departments. I was approached in the first instance, but at least in the sciences, there were competitive paid summer positions. Is there anything like that in your school? If there isn't, then I would suggest to ask for a meeting with a professor who is doing research you respect and express your genuine interest in his work and in being a part of it. Will he say yes or no? Who knows. I think it should be a professor you've taken a class or two with.
Anyway, I can't answer the second question too well since my situation was particular.
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"We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard-working, very patriotic, very pro-America areas of this great nation," she told the crowd. | 
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