She learns early that politics can be brutal

Ann Owen, a seventh-grader from West Branch, Iowa, had a tough initiation when she volunteered for the first time to work a phone bank at her local Barack Obama campaign office. Iowans -- even the nicest ones -- suffer from political call burnout as the caucuses approach.

“I got a lot of hang-ups at first,” said Ann, who was inviting folks to see Michelle Obama, the candidate’s wife. “The rejection didn’t feel too good. My eyes started watering. But then I thought about how many times I have hung up on a political person.”

And that, she said, eased the pain.