LJWorld.com

Special to the Journal-World

Kansas University graduate Kate Sullivan, right, is working on Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign in Iowa.

As the furor of the Iowa caucuses reaches its peak later this week, a handful of graduates from Kansas University are on the front lines of the influential race, stumping for Republicans and Democrats alike. Graduates like Ian Staples, a Free State High School and Kansas University alumnus, are knocking on doors, making phone calls, managing calendars and doing their bit to convince Iowa's caucus-goers that their candidate is the man - or woman - to lead the country.

"It's amazing," said Staples, who talks to voters on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. "These events inspire everybody in the crowd."

The Lawrence native moved to Des Moines two days after his last final exam at KU, in December. He works in the field, explaining Obama's positions to voters who will gather to caucus for their candidates Thursday. He said his job is part of the Obama campaign's "Get Out the Caucus" push, aimed at getting Iowans to sign pledges to support Obama.

"It's really personal," said Staples, who has talked to voters in towns like the Des Moines suburbs of Altoona and Urbandale. "It's really one-to-one. This campaign prides itself on being personal. It's one-to-one because that's the way you win."

Susan Hepworth, who graduated from KU in May, also wasted no time in jump-starting her career as a political desk coordinator for Republican candidate Mitt Romney. She packed her car and headed to Iowa the day after she graduated.

"I always wanted to work in politics, but I didn't know anyone who worked in politics," said the graduate of the journalism school. Her work with the Romney camp consists of scheduling events and conducting staff briefings.

Her classmate, Megan Cross, a political science major who also graduated in May, is working on Romney's campaign, as well. She said she decided she wanted to work for Romney after carefully considering the other candidates; she began work in Iowa shortly after she received her diploma.

Cross, a native of Ames, Iowa, is a field director in south central Iowa, in charge of volunteers in 17 counties. With just days until Republican voters punch their ballots, Cross said the Romney camp is working hard to lure voters.

"It's definitely very busy. It's a good thing," she said. "We're all just busy working and keeping our eye on the ball, and doing what we've been normally doing.

"Iowans are pretty fortunate to have so many candidates around the state," Cross said.

Kate Sullivan, another May 2007 KU graduate, never thought she would be on a first-name basis with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., but she said the former First Lady is "warm and friendly."

"Both she and Bill are good at making you feel like you're the only person in the room," said Sullivan, an Evanston, Ill., native, who leads the Clinton campaign's field efforts in north central Iowa. She is based in Waterloo.

The Journal-World made inquiries of all campaigns active in Iowa, but only the Clinton, Obama and Romney campaigns, and that of former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., were able to provide sources.

'It's electric'

The fast pace of a cutthroat campaign is invigorating, Staples said.

"The first thing I noticed when I walked in, it's electric. From 9 o'clock (a.m.) to about midnight every day, everyone's working. (There is) nonstop energy. It's amazing," he said.

The Romney camp has seen opponents like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee gain valuable ground in recent weeks. But that doesn't worry Hepworth.

"The polls are tightening, which we knew they would," she said. "We're really confident that the work we've done is going to pay off on Jan. 3."

Sullivan called the job "grueling," but rewarding.

"You get this really intense connection with all the people you work with," she said, referring to Clinton supporters in Iowa. "They trust you and look to you for guidance and help."

She said enthusiasm for Clinton is growing at a dizzying pace.

"The momentum is just crazy out here. It's building. Every day on the campaign is exciting," she said. "You see all this work you've been doing. It's like you're building something for so long and you're seeing it come to life."

Networking and good, old-fashioned gumption netted these young politicos their fast-paced jobs. Staples had been volunteering in Obama's Lawrence office shortly after it opened. He used his connections in Lawrence to campaign in Iowa. He said several staffers from the Lawrence office are on the Iowa campaign trail, as well. Staples said that he was further connected to the campaign because of his association with Steven Jacques, former director of programming at KU's Dole Institute of Politics, who now leads Obama's field efforts in Iowa.

Hepworth got her break when one of Romney's communications directors, KU graduate Caroline Weyforth, spoke to one of her classes last year.

"When Caroline came to talk to us, the light went off," Hepworth said.

'Wait until tomorrow'

The fast pace of the Iowa campaign has infused these partisans with enthusiasm for the political process. After Thursday's caucus, they will be dispatched to locations unknown to continue spreading the word about their candidates.

"Politics is such that you never really know what your next step is going to be," Cross said. "I'm pretty open to any possibilities, whether that's continuing on with the campaign or with government."

Hepworth said she wants to stay on the Romney campaign after the votes in Iowa are tallied.

"Politics is pretty intense. Every day it brings something different," said the Kansas City, Kan., native. "Wait until tomorrow: You see something new. I'm not sure I could walk away from that. I think I definitely have the politics bug."

Sullivan is considering law school in the future. She said her experience on the campaign trail has served her well.

"I feel blessed to be on a campaign," Sullivan said. "I think I made an extremely good choice in coming out here because the learning experience has been very valuable."