A Collegiate Front Seat to History

Dec. 2, 2007— -- Greg Boguslavsky tries to maintain his cool as he navigates his way through Dartmouth College's Alumni Hall.

The New Jersey native has just been told there aren't enough chairs in the VIP section for the town hall meeting with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and the wife of Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., doesn't have a seat.

With a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in one hand and a cell phone in the other, Boguslavsky has a word with a fellow student, and, moments later, more chairs are brought in.

Crisis avoided, Boguslavsky can now prepare himself for the event everyone has gathered for on a cold night in Hanover, N.H. It's a chance to hear from McCain in an informal setting and the opportunity to ask him questions directly.

Boguslavsky is the state chairman of the New Hampshire College Republicans, and at just 20 years old, he's met more presidential candidates in the last year than most people will meet throughout their lives.

"Voters in New Hampshire are used to a lot of attention from presidential candidates," he said.

"They really have their questions answered — get to know people who are running for office. So, I do think that New Hampshire's unique role does play a big part in all the activity we get [at Dartmouth]."

Activity is putting it mildly. In May, Boguslavsky met Mike Huckabee at a house party, and spent time with Rudy Giuliani on his campaign bus.

The Dartmouth College Republicans were busy throughout the summer. Boguslavsky and his fellow students met up with Duncan Hunter and Mitt Romney at a New Hampshire GOP Gala in June, Sam Brownback at the College National Republican Convention in July, and with Ron Paul on campus in September.

At events across the state, Boguslavsky has met every Republican front-runner in the 2008 race, and he has the pictures to prove it.

"My family thinks it's pretty cool," he laughed. "We don't really get this kind of political activity in New Jersey."

As a college student in New Hampshire, Boguslavsky acknowledges that he is uniquely positioned.