Camp Edwards: intense world of a presidential campaign headquarters

[chimpymustgo]

Great article on life inside a campaign. Much more at:

http://www.newsobserver.com/edwards/coverage/story/2775354p-2572133c.html
******
 
Thursday, August 14, 2003 12:00AM EDT

Take a peek inside the intense world of a presidential campaign headquarters

By SUSAN KINZIE, Staff Writer

RALEIGH--

-snip-

U.S. Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign headquarters is a little world of its own, a place fueled by adrenaline, idealism, competition, Starbucks and, more often than these staff members might like, little packets of orange cheese-crackers from the vending machine.

-snip-

"You have to keep reminding yourself it's a marathon, not a sprint," said campaign manager Nick Baldick. But the pace inside the world of the campaign makes it feel as if they're sprinting every step of a long, long race.

Since January, when the first-term senator from North Carolina announced his interest in running for president, people have come from all over the country -- California, Wisconsin, Alabama -- to work for Edwards. Most left their jobs, families, friends and just about everything else in their real lives to pick up and move to Raleigh.

They came because they think Edwards is the only Democrat who can beat President George W. Bush. Or because they heard Edwards speak and couldn't stop nodding in agreement. Or because they grew up in a mill town, too. Or because they're just hooked on the pace and the drama of campaigns.

-snip-
But last Wednesday was a psychological turning point for the campaign, as the staff shifted focus from raising money to talking to voters. The campaign started running TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire last week, and released a 60-page book of policy proposals called "Real Solutions for America."

"Today's about getting him out there so people will get to know him better," Baldick said .

-snip-

They all watched on a big screen as the camera zoomed in on Edwards talking, with piano music playing softly in the background. "Wooooooooo!" people cheered and clapped, then watched the two other spots.

"He just looked so great," briefing and policy coordinator Georgie Aguirre-Sacasa gushed. "I just had goose bumps! That'll keep us going another eight, 12 months."

snip-