Sleepy snow day thoughts

By Callista DeGraw

From where I’m sitting in the hotel lobby this morning, the snow outside is blowing so fast and so hard it looks like there are little white tornadoes travelling down the street. The campaign has given us a “snow day” and honestly, it’s a welcome break—we’re still going to make calls to potential caucus goers, but hey, at least I’ll be doing it from the warmth of my room. 

Today, emotional exhaustion has really hit me. We’re all doing real, hard work here in Iowa: some days those of us on campaigns spend seven consecutive hours on the phones or four hours outside in single-digit weather, while our journalist classmates have had 17-hour days to make sure their audience back on campus is well-informed. 

This trip has been absolutely incredible and filled with experiences, both big and small, that are unforgettable—from conversations about women in local office with Representatives Lindsay James and Jennifer Konfrst, to meeting the kindest Iowans while door knocking, to attending the debate. I have been overwhelmed with feelings of awe for what I’ve gotten to do here and gratitude for those in my life who made my trip possible. But for the first time since we’ve been here, these feelings were overpowered today by pure exhaustion and high emotions—perhaps I’m finally coming down from the major high of Tuesday night. 

However, for some self-awareness and perspective: I’m exhausted after eight days…but the candidates, their staff and every news outlet that is here in Iowa are still going– and have been for months. I’ve done enough campaign work to know it’s not easy and often exhaustion-inducing, but I truly have a new respect for those who have to multiply their work by 50 states.