Campaign politics
Professor Herb Asher helps students get involved
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Few people can say they've helped as many people get involved in the political process as Herb Asher.
Asher, an Ohio State professor emeritus of political science and an often-quoted source on Ohio politics, has taught a class on campaign politics for about 25 years. Over the years, he's required about 2,000 students to spend time volunteering for a political candidate.
"I have a number of former students who work in politics," he says. (One example: Congressman Pat Tiberi, a Republican who's currently fighting for re-election against Democratic challenger Bob Shamansky.)
While most students in the class are new to campaigning, Asher says, some are relatively seasoned for their young ages.
Take Jared Port, who joined Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland's camp in April, before the state's primary election was held. Port spends his time logging volunteer hours and sending letters on scheduling matters, among other tasks. His time has paid off: He has seen Strickland six or seven times in the past two months.
Port and Jessica Larkin, who's volunteering for Strickland's Republican opponent, Ken Blackwell, both say they have fun campaigning--and that the experience helps Asher's lectures hit home.
"It's a lot of fun," Larkin says. "I think you learn more when you do it hands-on."
Asher says most students spend their volunteer hours like Port and Larkin: stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, knocking on doors. Sometimes, though, students volunteering for a lower-level campaign--a first-time candidate, say, or someone seeking an often overlooked office--get to do more substantial work, from scheduling the candidate's events to putting out press releases.
The focus of his class is simple: Asher tries to teach students how candidates win.
"It's very pragmatic," he says.
Related links:
Ohio State University Department of Political Science
Ohio State University elections experts
(text/images: University Marketing Communications)
