On February 22, students in the Semester in Washington Program met with Timothy Nussbaum ’07, Northern Virginia operations coordinator for the George Allen for U.S. Senate campaign. Prior to assuming this position, Nussbaum had served as senior research assistant for the Fred Thompson for President campaign in 2008 and as executive assistant to the president of George Allen Strategies LLC.
Nussbaum began the meeting by describing his journey from Hamilton College to a senior position in a campaign that could well decide which party controls the U.S. Senate. He then discussed the complexities of managing the operational details of completing Virginia’s rigorous requirements for getting on the ballot and then marshaling data and mobilizing volunteers to get out the vote. With the academic focus of this semester on elections, students had many questions both about campaign organizations and strategies and about the dynamics of the 2012 election.
Earlier in the day, students had a tour of the East Wing of the White House arranged by Sara Feuerstein ’07, White House staff assistant. Feuerstein and Nussbaum were classmates in the Spring, 2006, Program in Washington.
To follow the lives and ideas of students on the Semester in Washington Program, visit the blog Potomac Fever.
