As most of her peers in her graduating class dreaded the potential re-election of President George W. Bush, alumna Rachel Hoff (LA '04) prepared for a career in which she would mobilize support for his party.
"When Nicole Ambrose, the National Chairman of Young Republicans, asked me to organize the national effort to mobilize Young Republican voters, I jumped at the opportunity," Hoff said.
Hoff was appointed the National Field Director of the Young Republicans (YR) in August of this year, and now plays a key role in grassroots GOP re-election efforts across the country.
The Young Republicans is a tax-exempt group that supports GOP candidates in political elections. "Many members are former campaign managers," Hoff said.
"We're really the young professionals of the Republican Party," she said. "Most active members are between 25 and 35 years old and we represent the skilled labor of the campaign efforts."
Hoff said she spends a lot of time answering e-mails and creating spreadsheets, but talked about the greater scheme of her work. It is her responsibility to develop and implement the Young Republicans' nationwide strategy for supporting midterm election candidates.
"My first priority is to deploy volunteers into targeted states for intense weekends of campaigning," she said. She also plans to send legal teams to oversee voting locations and ensure all election laws are followed.
Targeted states this year include Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Tennessee, and Montana.
"This kind of coordinated grassroots political effort, the Rove/Melman strategy, has become the hallmark of the Republican Party," she said. "It's why we win elections and why we have dominated the house, senate and presidency."
Hoff has already visited Ohio and Indiana.
"We chose to kick off our campaign efforts in Ohio because it has proven to be such a key state in determining the direction of politics nationally and we believe that's especially true this November," Hoff said. YR teams hit districts in Cleveland, Dayton, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and southeastern Indiana the weekend of Sept. 29- Oct.1.
Hoff organized volunteers to assist in multiple Ohio campaigns, including those of Senator Mike DeWine, gubernatorial candidate and Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and Steve Chabot, U.S. House candidate in Ohio's District 1.
According to Oct. 11 averages on Pollster.com, DeWine is locked in a dead heat with Democrat Sherrod Brown. Democratic challenger Ted Strickland holds a 15-point lead over Blackwell (52 vs. 37 percent). Available data shows Steve Chabot statistically tied with Democratic challenger John Cranley.
DeWine's seat is particularly important. "Senator DeWine is defending perhaps the most contested Senate seat in the country," Hoff said, of an election year in which a loss of only six Senate seats would mean losing the majority in the chamber.
Republican candidates in the state face a balancing act of appealing to their base, mostly loyal Bush supporters, while promoting an identity independent from the administration.
DeWine, who is pro-life and supports gun control, is one such unique candidate.
"What I thought was the most interesting dynamic walking around Cincinnati was how many people supported [Democrat] Chabot but said DeWine was too liberal for their vote," said Tamara Woods, YR chair for the Midwest region.
Hoff, Woods and other volunteers spent the weekend distributing literature door-to-door and making phone calls. "We've made over 5,000 voter contacts this weekend. I'm optimistic [that] neighbors talking to neighbors about why they're voting Republican will ensure GOP victory again," Hoff said.
Hoff said her devotion to conservative principles and sense of duty motivated her involvement.
"I want Republicans to win because I believe in the Republicans' vision for America," she said. "I believe in an ownership society where individuals are given the right to make their own decisions and make their own resources. I very much identify as an idealist."
