SMU alumna Taylor Thornley interacted with various political figures while working on John McCain’s 2008 presidential bid.

But Thornley, who had taken a semester off from SMU to work on the campaign, said one of the most exciting moments came when Katie Couric said hello to her by name when she interviewed Cindy McCain.

All she could think, she said, was “Katie Couric knows my name.”

Thornley first became involved with the McCain campaign as an intern, and eventually she became Mrs. McCain’s press assistant.

Now she works as a press assistant with Republican Bob McDonnell on his campaign for the Virginia governor seat.

While some campaign workers decide that campaign life is not for them, Thornley said she enjoys it, describing it as a lot of fun and “very intoxicating.”

Thornley spoke to a group of SMU students during the Hilltop on the Hill program. Focused on political communication, the group was made up of CCPA and journalism majors who traveled to Washington, D.C. during Fall Break.

For those students looking to break into politics, Thornley said campaigns are “the best way to get your foot in the door.”

Thornley noted most campaigns are always looking for free labor and said students don’t need to get an internship to get involved and gain experience. Campaigns are also a good way to get to know people in the political world, she said.

Campaigning for Bob

While talking to the group of SMU students, Thornley described working on the McDonnell Campaign after The Washington Post discovered the master’s thesis he wrote while at Regents University and the subsequent criticism the candidate faced.

His thesis discussed conservative beliefs, including how working women are detrimental to families. He also outlined 15 goals for the Republican Party to accomplish, including covenant marriage and abortion restrictions.

When the story broke, Thornley said the communications team broke the thesis down and looked at what it said and how McDonnell stands today, in an effort to figure out what McDonnell had done to discount his thesis.

The McDonnell campaign addressed the issue firsthand, Thornley said, holding a 90-minute conference call with reporters where McDonnell took questions until the reporters stopped asking them. But even after that, Thornley said the issue is “something we can’t avoid.”

Thornley said she believes McDonnell can win in Virginia.

“Republicans are tired of losing elections in Virginia,” she said, noting that the current governor and both senators are Democrats.

“Finally they [the Republicans] have someone they’re excited about,” she said.