IT'S the experience of a lifetime for Irish students Peter Mannion and Phil Allister, who are interning with the two presidential candidates while on a two-month work experience program in Washington, D.C.Mannion is interning for Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama and Allister is interning with his GOP rival, Senator John McCain.Mannion, 19 and Allister, 21, are both final year university students from Ireland. Mannion, from Galway, is entering his final year of law studies at the University College Galway. Allister, from Belfast, will turn his attention back to the world of finance come September at Queens University in Belfast. But for another two weeks (and for the past six), these Irish students will devote every minute of living and breathing to American politics.Mannion, who was one of the 26 interns chosen to participate in this year's Washington Ireland Program (WIP) - a program that brings Protestant and Catholic university students from Ireland to Washington for summer internships and leadership training every year - was intent from the start on working beside who he thinks "is the best man for the job as president."After being accepted onto the program, Mannion expressed a keen interest in interning for Obama."I followed Obama from pretty early on in his career and I think his message is amazing and inspiring," Mannion feels. "I latched onto that, and last year I thought it would be great to go work on his campaign."After learning about the WIP on the Internet, Mannion filled out the "long application form," attended an interview and was overjoyed when he was told he had been accepted to join the Obama team on Capitol Hill for eight weeks of the summer.Allister, whose father Jim Allister is a Northern Ireland Unionist politician, has a similar story."I wanted to something big with my last summer," said Allister adding he chose to work with McCain because he firmly believes in his policies and future plans."The opportunity to work with one of the presidential candidates is huge, especially in the year that there is a presidential election," he said. "It is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity."Although a student of law, Mannion admits he didn't chose the internship to benefit his career. He just wanted to diversify his experience.Both students were pleasantly surprised how much additional learning came with the WIP internship."When you come over you think the internship is going to be the big thing, but the actual program itself is and the way it's run so well," said Mannion explaining that the one day a week training that each of the 26 students undergoes is priceless."The range of issues we delve into is just great," said Allister.Another benefit both Mannion and Allister agree on is the first hand experience they are gaining on the job."To see people go about their jobs in the various offices is great and to speak to them while their on the job is fantastic," Mannion said.Because of his involvement in politics back home, Allister said the program and the internship itself have him an "insight into how politics works at the highest level."Mannion, who said he might like to work in the political field one day, said being around people who are "obsessed with politics" and having a "chance to sit down and work with people who are so passionate about what they do," empowers him."It makes you feel like you really can change the world," he said. It's not often that interns get to meet their senator or representative face to face but Mannion was personally introduced to Obama on the steps of the Capitol two weeks ago, which he said was a "fantastic" moment."It was such an honor to meet the senator and even more incredible to see his full motorcade and the police," said Mannion.While Allister didn't get to meet his boss just yet, he "had the pleasure" of attending a speech given by McCain in Washington recently."It was just great to be in the same room as him," said Allister.While Mannion and Allister, who have been staying with local families in the Washington area, will travel back to Ireland in two weeks to resume life as college students, it is their hope and ambition to be back in Washington sooner rather than later, maybe this time as a staffer to the next president. An intern from the 2006 WIP, Jo Black, is now working full time on the McCain campaign. Allister explains that Black was first a scheduler but is currently working on the strategy side of his campaign."I'd love to have the opportunity she has been given. It's just wonderful, so you never know," said a hopeful Allister.While their lives will return to normal for a while, both men will be taking time out of their studies come November to watch the presidential election unfold. Their bets are already on the table.