Dean's future comes one election at a time

(Photo submitted) W. Chris Dean's double major in political science and philosophy opened the door for an interesting opportunity this summer. The Spencer grad is on the paid staff of the Barack Obama campaign and coordinates volunteers in northeast Indiana.

W. Chris Dean didn't expect an Indiana roadmap to come with the Cornell College degree he received in May.

But a presidential candidate's campaign of "change" has thrown a few curve balls Dean's way this summer.

The 2004 Spencer graduate was recently hired as a paid field organizer in northeast Indiana for the Barack Obama campaign. His three-county region includes the hometown of former Vice President Dan Quayle. Needless to say, the Democratic message isn't a automatically an easy sell.

"People are paying a lot of attention to this campaign nationally and locally," he said, over a very busy cell phone from Indiana Wednesday afternoon. "What they're doing, unfortunately, is they're paying attention to polls, they're paying attention to what is put on TV and I am here to tell you that isn't what this campaign is about. This campaign isn't about how much we're up and down in national polls, it's not about trying to win a battleground state like Ohio, this is a 50-state campaign."

Dean says the campaign's true support comes from the staff's effort to listen to constituent concerns.

"There's no such thing as a typical day in the field," he said. "I am in charge of three rural counties that are very similar to Clay County in size, population and makeup. They are very agricultural communities and very family-centered communities. What I am in charge of doing is getting the Democratic organization, which has not been historically strong over the past 40 years or so, and I'm working on building them back up."

The spirited campaign between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama has given Dean some fresh names on the call list. Indiana hasn't been in the Democratic column since Lyndon B. Johnson was president.

"This is the year that has the best momentum going for us here in Indiana," he said. "The primary campaign registered more Democratic voters in this state than has happened since Harry Truman. We have an incredible organization that's built here. A success for me is to be able to win the vote in these rural counties where people have been ignored, where national campaigns have not even bothered going. That's where you're seeing the excitement, is the fact that we are here, we are on the ground we're talking to the people and we're really getting a good response from people in these areas."

The 22-year-old son of Curtis and Rhonda Dean of Spencer is staying at a volunteer's house in Marion, Ind. The city is about three times the size of Spencer.

Back home, Dean was an active member of the debate program along with choir, theatre, band and speech.

"The background I got with the Spencer debate program is really what helped me decide the path I wanted going into college and working on building my career," he said. "Politics is of great interest to me and something I believe I can use my resources, skills and abilities to be able to really make a difference in some of these areas."

Dean caucused for Obama while attending college in Mount Vernon. He had more time to pursue his political interests when he graduated with a double major in political science and philosophy.

The elder Dean came across a Fellows program, which is essentially an unpaid internship for the Obama campaign. The recent college graduate packed a bag, got on a bus and headed to Indiana to help the candidate.

"You've got to get pushed out of your comfort zone a little bit no matter what you're doing," he said. "I just graduated from college and I was looking for an opportunity. It really was a no-brainer for me. As soon as it popped up and I learned I had the position, I jumped on it."

He initially worked out of the Fort Wayne office as a volunteer. He continues to spend his time making rounds in the three-county area making sure the organization is strong and developing.

Dean also realizes his job ends at the conclusion of the election cycle.

"I have been thinking about that a lot lately," Dean said. "My original intention was to go to law school, and that's something I'm still keeping my mind focused on. There have been other opportunities that have sprung up. An e-mail has been sent out to some of the staffers here about a master's program at George Washington University -- to get their master's in political management. Being involved in the campaign here has really inspired me to start to go forward for that."

Dean also may come back to Iowa to earn some extra money and plan his future. That campaign theme of "change" is going to happen -- but the course of the transition isn't something the Indiana staffer can anticipate.

"Honestly," he said. "I have no idea."