Magazine HomeMarketing and Communications HomeNortheastern home page
Northeastern University Alumni Magazine logo
Staff Awards Advertise Send Class Note Send Letter Update Address Back Issues Subscribe Links Search

March 2004

E Line

Features
Following the Food
The Patriot

Departments
Letters
E Line
Alumni Passages
From the Field
Research Briefs
Sports
Books
Classes
Huskiana

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.”

E Line Story Index


Feature photo