A glimmer of hope

Do you know this man? Probably not, but if I do my job well, you'll be hearing a lot more about Congressman Joe Sestak in the coming months. His campaign office this week hired me to work in the media relations department as Sestak attempts to unseat incumbent Arlen Specter in the U.S. Senate. The campaign is still in its infancy stages, so it could only afford to hire me on a part-time basis. But I see this as an opportunity to dabble in politics while also bolstering my resume for other public relations jobs.

Sestak is a retired Navy admiral who won election to a congressional seat outside Philadelphia in 2006. Last month, I contacted his campaign offering to volunteer for his race against Specter in the Democratic primary this May. After helping with a small campaign event in Scott Township, Pa., I marched with Sestak in Pittsburgh's Labor Day parade as he "zigzagged back and forth between the curbs lining the route" to introduce himself to local voters. Before the parade, I pulled him aside and talked to him for a few minutes before handing him my business card. A few days later, his campaign offered me a media relations position in Western Pennsylvania. Since he is from a Philadelphia suburb, promoting his candidacy in this part of the state will be a major challenge, and it is one that I embrace.

Politics fascinate me. As a reporter, I loved writing about government because of the policy debates between candidates. Now that I'm liberated of my journalist title, I will be able to participate rather than observe and report.

The job injects a few extra dollars into my bank account each month, but most importantly, it offers health insurance. This does not mean I will stop looking for a full-time job elsewhere. All options remain on the table as I balance the job hunt with the campaign. Blog posts on The Bread Line might slow down a bit, but I'll keep you updated on my progress. We'll see what transpires over the next eight months.