``It's exhilarating, no doubt about it,'' said Adams, 38, a Murray native who serves as policy coordinator for GOP vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney.
This is Adams' second tour of duty: he worked for the Bush White House from 1989 to 1993.
Now, seven days a week, he makes policy recommendations, briefs his boss, and helps with ``planning the message'' that goes out over the airwaves.
Adams gets to work in downtown Austin at 6:30 a.m., before sunrise. And he heads for home well after dark: 9 or 10 p.m. some nights and ``much, much later'' on others.
He tries to pause at lunchtime, so he can spend a few minutes with his wife, Jennifer, and his nine-month-old daughter, Tindall Elizabeth.
But sometimes, he's on the road, traveling to Washington or to Cheney's home in Wyoming.
Being away from the baby so much is a sacrifice, Adams said, adding, ``They grow so quickly at that age and you're afraid you're going to miss out on something.''
But the finish line Election Day isn't far away.
``I know this is for a short time and it's for a great cause,'' he said.