Thompson, the campaign director for the Harvard Dems, also emphasized that canvassing allows students to connect with voters who have much more life experience. Thompson mentioned an elderly couple who both expressed disappointment with the negativity of politics and, therefore, had yet to decide on their votes.

“It’s always a really nice experience. It’s nice to get that real world aspect,” Thompson said.

LOOKING FORWARD

As the school bus rolled out of placid Rochester, students chatted about the day’s highlights, sharing tales of feisty dogs and frustrating conversations and parsing out the differences between New Hampshire and Cambridge.

Two hours later, the evergreens and suburban streets of Rochester far behind them, the campaigners—many still wearing stickers and pins promoting the Democratic party—arrived in Cambridge.

Before the crew disembarked and returned to academics and dorm life, Ki stood up and announced the results of the day’s work: they had knocked on 700 doors and spoken to over 100 New Hampshire residents.

Already looking to the next step, Ki told the canvassers about future trips in early November.

He asked students to participate in at least one more effort. And if they participated in all three?

“I would die of joy,” he said.

—Staff writer Nikita Kansra can be reached at nkansra01@college.harvard.edu.