Maroon Weekly

By Megan Brown

Until recently, my political engagement was limited to hotly debating actions of Congress with friends. Despite obsessively following current events, I never before participated in a political campaign. I knew the job would be demanding, but I had no idea how a campaign is more a life-style than a mere occupation, consuming your entire life.

I found my way on to it almost accidentally – needing something to fill my time between job interviews, I began volunteering but quickly became hooked by the campaign’s energy. I became a full-time volunteer during the summer, and I spent the fall serving in the campaign’s fellowship program, in which I had similar responsibilities to a staff member.

Having completed the program, I now work in the communications department, coordinating mail pieces and newspaper and radio ads. I spend a majority of my time designing ads, fliers and bulletins as well as photographing events.

Less than a year has passed since I graduated, and I’ve noticed a striking similarity between campaign life and life as a student: you never have enough sleep, you eat poorly (for dinner tonight, I finished off a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream), you drink more than your liver would like and most days, you look like you rolled right out of bed.

As the primary nears, I come home each night increasingly exhausted, with just enough energy left to crawl into bed. I gave up wearing make-up a long time ago. Now, I just try to make sure my hair has been recently washed and my clothes differ from what I wore the day before.

My hours are not reliable, but I know I will work well past 7:00 p.m. every night. No one can predict what a campaign will throw at you, but this makes the atmosphere exciting enough to act as its own stimulant. An enthusiastic reception, receiving a key endorsement or a major gaffe by the opponent can power you through an entire week.

I once wondered how anyone knew of candidates in less publicized and obscure races like animal court judge of Precinct H. Now I’ve come to know many such candidates first-hand. They, too, have a dedicated staff who works tirelessly to propel them forward and who believes in them.

Camaraderie exists among us, staff of various campaigns – provided our candidates are not facing each other in the primary or of differing parties. We see each other at countless political functions, and they now comprise my dwindling group of friends willing to put up with my crazy schedule because they are in the same boat.

My firm belief in my candidate enables me to continue this hectic lifestyle. I believe in his solutions to our most pressing issues, his commitment to our state and his vision for our future. I am willing to live such a frenzied life because I believe whole-heartedly that he is the right leader for Texas.