The Slutsky brothers on the campaign
trail: At times, they even talk alike
Matthew and Peter Slutsky have the twin thing down
pat.
Though the 2003 political science graduates aren’t
identical twins, they’ve chosen nearly identical paths. Both went
to Northeastern, both majored in political science, and now they’re
both working for presidential hopeful John Kerry.
And they both love it.
The brothers have been crisscrossing the country,
drumming up support for Kerry before each caucus or primary. They
set up meetings, make countless phone calls, go door-to-door—whatever
it takes to get out the vote. “It’s not glamorous work, and it’s
not fun work,” says Matthew, “but it’s necessary to get a new president.”
Peter concurs. “I feel so strongly that George
Bush should not be our president. So every task I do has an overall
goal.”
Though the twins are rarely in the same place,
they confer daily by cell phone to compare strategies.
“There’s a certain strength in us both doing this,”
says Matthew. “We have different personalities to bring to it, but
together we’re a stronger team.”
The worst thing about campaigning? Not enough sleep,
both say. “I’m living out of my car and not sleeping at all,” says
Matthew.
“The hours are ridiculous,” adds Peter. “I drink
multiple cups of coffee every day.”
The brothers come from a Philadelphia family that
believed politics was a hot topic. Mom’s a Democrat and Kerry supporter;
dad’s a Republican. But this election, Matthew reports, dad’s planning
to vote for Kerry. “That doesn’t mean he doesn’t like Bush. But
he’s trying to support us,” he explains.
Matthew and Peter both plan to make politics their
life’s work. And they’re keeping their fingers—all twenty of them—crossed
for Kerry, for whom they’d love to keep toiling. Quips Matthew,
“I’d be willing to cut grass on the White House lawn.”
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