More than 1,000 applicants seek unpaid Clinton fellowships in Iowa

DES MOINES - While many Iowans scatter to the coasts, mountains and 'Up North” in summer, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign is hearing from a lot of people who want to spend the next few months here.

Hillary for Iowa, the 2016 presidential hopeful's campaign in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, reports receiving applications from more than 1,000 people who want to be Clinton fellows in Iowa this summer.

Interviews are underway for the Hillary for Iowa Organizing Fellowship program, which will give those selected the opportunity to learn organizing strategies as full-time volunteers on the former secretary of state's Iowa caucus campaign, according to the Clinton campaign.

In return, the unpaid fellows - most 18 to 24 years of age - will take on many of the same organizing responsibilities as the campaign's full-time staff.

Michelle Kleppe, Hillary for Iowa organizing director, said the campaign is excited by the response.

'Caucuses are about relationships,” Kleppe said, adding that the campaign has dozens of organizers across Iowa building 'a broad base of support from Iowans for next year's caucuses.”

At the same time, it will train the next generation of progressive organizers in Iowa.

The plan is for volunteers to be responsible for recruiting, training and leading volunteers and making direct voter contact in specific areas during their eight-week fellowships, according to a campaign spokesman. The campaign plans to offer fall and winter fellowships as well.

The fellowship program builds on the organizing the Clinton campaign has been doing in Iowa since April. Punya Krishnappa is leading the 'commit to caucus” effort in Linn County and the surrounding area. Field organizers are meeting with Iowans to ask them to pledge now to attend their precinct caucus Feb. 1 to support the former first lady.

'We're trying to meet as many people as possible and respond to people who want more information,” Krishnappa said. ‘

The most frequently asked question is 'When will Clinton be back,” she said.

The field staff also works on social media, engaging likely caucusgoers and responding to people who ask about Clinton and how to get involved in the campaign.

'We've created Facebook groups for each area as a way to get people engaged,” Krishnappa said.

Many younger voters are volunteering to use social media to connect with their contemporaries.

'It's a place where they feel comfortable having a conversation about how they will get involved,” she said.

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