Many political scientists wonder why so few people in our discipline play key roles in presidential campaigns. After all, we have much to offer. In graduate school, we learn about statistics, policy analysis, voting behavior, and other topics with practical applications. During my own political experience—with the New York Legislature, the U.S. Congress, the Bush campaigns and other political organizations—I have often used my formal training in political science.

The problem is that graduate school supplies only part of what political activists need. And in some ways, it can actually be a handicap.