Colin Van Ostern T'09 at an event for former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen.

Playing Politics

Long term. That's how first-year Tuck students often think when lining up a summer internship. After all, many go on to work for the same firm they spent the summer with once they graduate. But not Colin Van Ostern T'09, who is working as the coordinated campaign director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party through the fall of 2008. Due to the erratic and unpredictable nature of politics, Van Ostern will chart a different course. After the elections are over, his position will cease to exist. But, having worked in political arena in the past, he knows the drill—and the potential upside of this unpredictability.

This ever-changing landscape has enabled Van Ostern to intern in the White House under the Clinton administration and work on Capitol Hill; he was John Edwards's New Hampshire Press Secretary in 2004 during the presidential primaries; and he was former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen's communications director when she ran for the U.S. Senate in 2002.

During the 2004 Democratic primary, Van Ostern was the second person on the ground for Edwards in New Hampshire. He worked 18-hour days. It was his job to introduce Edwards to the state. "Almost no one knew who he was, and they weren't so sure about his southern accent," recalls Van Ostern. However, after attending 109 of the 111 town hall meetings he'd set up—ranging from a dozen people in the coffee shop to a thousand in a high school gym—Van Ostern saw Edwards's position on poverty develop through scores of informal question-and-answer periods, which became a central issue of the campaign. And while Edwards lost the primary, the exit polls showed that he had the highest approval rating in New Hampshire—which Van Ostern feels played into presidential candidate John Kerry picking Edwards as a running mate.

On the one hand, Van Ostern knows his upcoming job will be hectic, fast-paced, and nuanced by scores of factors; political climates, after all, shift with every news cycle. But he'll gain the kind of experience that is indispensable to any organization that values someone with proven experience in a world where quick thinking—and acting—is integral to success. "You can't change when election day is," notes Van Ostern. "And it's a high-stakes atmosphere up until that day."

His new role, which puts more than 100 people under his charge, differs from his past political experience. He won't be working for a single person this time out. Rather, his main objective is far more diffuse—mobilize the New Hampshire Democratic Party as a whole. And this year in particular, that is no small undertaking.

During this election year, New Hampshire is considered a battleground state in the presidential race. Two Democratic congressmen are seeking re-election and New Hampshire hosts one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races in the country, which pits Shaheen against incumbent John E. Sununu. He'll set up scores of field offices, hire and train dozens of staff, and coordinate communications across all these races.

"I'm helping candidates up and down the ticket in New Hampshire," says Van Ostern. "This is less of a functional role and more about general management."

Nevertheless, Van Ostern has accrued additional knowledge and expertise that has nothing to do with winning votes or marshaling volunteers from Tuck—both in and outside the classroom. He's found Tuck's strong core program to be an unexpected asset. "There are lots of courses I wouldn't have taken if I was setting my own calendar," he says. "And I've really enjoyed that."

Despite his substantial experience in the political arena, Van Ostern isn't exclusively married to politics—and certainly sees potential crossover to other disciplines. "Campaigns are about managing through explosive growth, segmenting and targeting the population, and executing under pressure," he points out. In this job, however, his focus is on ensuring a Democratic rise to power. Will this hinder his chances of getting hired by someone who doesn't necessarily share the views of that party? He doesn't think so. His job performance, regardless of political affiliation, will speak for itself.