The Presidential Hop

A presidential campaign is like nothing you can even imagine. The sheer energy of the day to day happenings of something that large in scale is mind blowing. At times it can be exhausting, but at the end of the day (after most people have already gone to bed), you sit around with your fellow campaigners and talk about why whomever you’re working for will be the best leader, and why the other guy stinks. Everyone’s an “insider” in presidential campaigns, for everybody talks as if they have the ear of the candidate, even if they’ve never met him (or hopefully one day, her). But that false pretense is excepted in the world of presidential politics, for it’s the mark of a candidate that has inspired a particular group of people to give up their regular lives and join up for a wild and wonderful ride.

In 2004 I joined the General Wesley Clark for President campaign. I arrived in Manchester, New Hampshire knowing very few people. As soon as I arrived at the office I quickly jumped in, headed to a rally where the filmmaker Michael Moore was about to give a speech for the General, whom also would attend. I sat in that high school auditorium amazed, “Am I really here doing this?” Over the next few weeks I traveled with the campaign, eventually earning my “insider” badge just because I knew a couple of names and had met a few higher ups. After the campaign ended I traveled back to Chicago, sat in the back of the cab and thought, “It went so fast, but it was worth it.”

After that I worked in politics on a regular basis until the end of 2005, when I had officially burnt out. Nothing could compare to the Clark campaign, it was an experience like none other. I told myself that I was through with politics, I need a life (something a political career just cannot offer). Instead I shifted my attention towards event planning, settled in on a nice existence with more free time, opportunities to be creative and all in all a much calmer life. I must admit, I rather enjoy it.

This morning, as I was hopping along on my way to the subway, I thought, “Would I want to join a presidential campaign for 2008?” The idea never really occurred to me before, I thought I had settled on the fact that I was through with politics. My schedule permits it as does my life, I have no real responsibilities to speak of and no job holding me back. And when I say I left politics do I mean your average campaign in the average politic world or do I mean it all, presidential campaigns in tow? Is a presidential campaign above the fray of your average political campaign? Am I willing to give up my life again? I guess these are questions I need to ask myself over the next year.

You’re probably wondering who I would want to work for. I’ve got to admit, I’m not sure. Ones that stand out are Clinton, Evan Bayh, Al Gore and Barack Obama. They all inspire me, but would they give me a job? Would I sleep on the floor in a freezing house in Manchester, New Hampshire for one of them, or drive through the New York mountains in a snow storm? I’m not sure, time will tell.

A change is a blowin through people, I feel it in my bones.