Pictured Above: Senior Rebecca Nero campaigns for Jessica Harrington, the Democratic nominee for Florida State House District 64.
Courtesy of Rebecca Nero
By Trevor Martindale
Political campaigns are trudging through the COVID-19 pandemic through new outreach techniques and USF St. Petersburg students are along for the ride.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, campaigns would hold in-person events and knock on doors to spread awareness and turn out the vote. Now, campaigns are holding events on Zoom and depending on distant mediums such as phone and text banking for voter outreach.
Student campaign involvement ranges from state house candidates to presidential candidates.
Senior political science major Rebecca Nero is campaigning for Jessica Harrington, the Democratic nominee for Florida State House District 64.
“I have mostly done presidential work and I can already tell two days in that I prefer this campaign style over presidential (campaigning),” Nero said. “This is true grassroots in the way we fundraise and do outreach. It is definitely more intimate in the way you interact with volunteers and voters.”
Nero explained that Harrington’s campaign has continued in person outreach through no-contact literature drops at peoples’ doorsteps.
“We do (literature) drops in person but we don’t endanger ourselves, voters and our volunteers,” Nero said.
She continued to explain that Harrington’s campaign and its volunteers are taking necessary precautions.
“We require masks, social distancing, and we take every precaution to protect our people and our community,” Nero said. “We are not canvassing, as canvassing in a pandemic is extremely unethical.”
Lauren Lewchuk, a political science major who is volunteering for the Joe Biden presidential campaign, was intrigued by her campaign’s approach to the pandemic, contributing to her interest in volunteering.
“In lieu of the global pandemic and the soaring presence of extreme, frightening partisanship, I am interested in Former Vice President Biden and Senator Harris’ formulation of strategies to combat these aspects of our current ‘normal,’” Lewchuk said.
Senior political science major Laura Coley is interning for Congressman Charlie Crist’s reelection campaign.
Despite the obstacles virtual campaigning presents, Coley remains hopeful that she will still gain valuable experience and make important contacts for her future endeavors.
“I’m hoping to get an internal look at the workings of campaigns and government work from this internship, as well as other valuable working and leadership skills,” Coley said in an email to The Crow’s Nest. “Since I am a senior political science major, this is some experience I need as I prepare for graduation and will hopefully provide me with some insight and post-internship contacts, as I’d love to work in regional, state or federal government after graduation.”
