Sarah Rasmussen: Foot Soldier
by Tamara Heimur on February 12, 2008 in Features
“As soon as Barack Obama announced that he was running,” said Sarah Rasmussen (MPP ‘07), “I knew I wanted to work for him.”
Rasmussen, who canvassed for political and environmental organizations before coming to the Kennedy School, was single-minded in her pursuit of a job with the campaign. Weeks of networking and persistence finally paid off when she landed a position as a field organizer in the critical primary state of New Hampshire.
Running a team of more than 40 volunteers in northern Stafford County, Rasmussen’s days consisted of canvassing, building relationships with local political and community leaders, organizing events and tracking information on progress in her geographical area. Twelve-hour days were considered short.
Over endless hours in the field, the volunteers became her second family, offering constant inspiration and support. Gail, a 60-year old volunteer on Rasmussen’s team, supported the campaign while fighting Parkinson’s disease.
“I didn’t pick Obama, Obama picked me,” Gail said. She frequently compared Obama’s style to the inspirational speeches of President John F. Kennedy.
Rasmussen maintains a great sense of humor in her work, which can be less than glamorous at times. At a campaign stop Obama made at an ice cream social, he scooped ice cream and reminisced about his first job at Baskin Robbins. But when the event ended, it was the campaign team that cleaned up the equipment and returned it to local shops. The staffers’ business attire was covered in leftover ice cream. Such is life in a campaign.
For all its challenges and long hours, Rasmussen says the experience has been uplifting. “Being in New Hampshire, where people take politics so seriously, has renewed my faith in democracy,” she said.
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