One week and counting. Actually less. After two long years, its almost over. 

Even for political junkies like me, this has been too long of a process. Working in the field has been taxing. Several times I’ve had to take a hiatus from regular consumption of news and commentary. I’ve had times where I’ve passed on the opportunity to engage in political chatter (barstooling, if you will) because I was just simply too burnt out. As we’ve gotten closer to E-day though, its been impossible to ignore the coverage. I start every morning getting my political fix before my coffee fix, even if it is just to review what I read the night before on Politico or RealPolitics.  And as we approach the final stretch, I find myself wondering how I will entertain myself when this is all over. An addict I am; even an addict that can stop every now and then. But there has been a subtle but very real sense of despair that comes with the realization that the horserace is coming to a close. Some equate it to what some in prison experience- institutionalization. Others say it is like a substance addiction. I think it is a bit of both.  

In prison, a lifer accepts his fate to the point that he adapts to the environment and develops new systems of support and familiarity. In the political world, it starts out much like that.  The energy of operating in campaign mode is at first a shock, as anyone who has every worked on a political campaign or issue camaign knows. You’re always working – even when you’re not. There is so much that needs to be done each day that you cannot afford to let your mind slow down. Before long though, you adapt to it. Your body and spirit accept it and, before you know it, it is a part of you. You want to keep going at it. You want to indulge. You want to keep feeding it and perfect your work. When the end of the tunnel comes into view, it is disconcerting. You start to realize just how accustomed to operating on full cylinders you’ve become and, though you’re dying for a vacation, you don’t want to shut it off.

Case in point: I recently organized a pretty large operation around the presidential debate on Long Island. I spent months working towards it. As the date got closer, the tension was almost unbearable. When the day came, I had more energy than I had in years, despite having started at 4 a.m. and skipped out on eating the whole day. When the day ended, I was so amped that I opted for more work after midnight just to be a part of the energy on campus. The next day my body was completely wiped out and my spirit became depressed. Two weeks later and I still feel it. Though I am still working on an issue campaign through Election Day, the big even of the year is over. The success has come and gone, saddly. Once you get used to the energy, you realize it  is addictive, even in short bursts. 

I cannot fathom how the Obama campaign staff are holding up. I know some of them and they aren’t even thinking of the end yet – or so they say. I imagine they’re in denial. Living off of that high level of energy for 20 months is incomprehensible to me, let alone when you factor in the signficance of being an active part of electing the prospective first black president. It is common knowledge that the end of campaigns are very difficult to handle for most staffers, win or lose. But the Obama folks will have it harder than anyone in recent memory.  If Obama is elected, I wonder how long it will take for the reality to “hit them”. If Obama loses, I can’t imagine how long it will take for them to recover.

Tags: commentary, election, mike o, obama