Bob Marsh

He may look like a J. Crew model, but Bob Marsh, 25, is all history and politics. He put his education on hold to help elect Barack Obama president. Now? He’s ready for his next adventure.

Bob Marsh, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! You look like a J. Crew model! Do Hollywood agents just stop you in the street?
There are agents in Paducah?

Oh, there’s a little bit of everything in Paducah! Bob Marsh, you know we’re related.
Yes, but I don’t know how.

Your mom (the extremely gorgeous Dia Canter) and my husband (hunka hunka Bruce Brockenborough) are cousins. Their grandparents were brother and sister.
Ah, got it.

Speaking of hunka hunka, my mother-in-law, Pat Brockenborough, sent me an email suggesting you as an iDate. Her subject line read: Hunka, hunka, hunka, hunka! Bob, you’re DAR-LING! Must be in your genes.
Well, thanks, Pat. I can thank her side of the family for my genes. (Sure she doesn’t need her glasses adjusted?)

Bob with his niece, Lily

Absolutely not! Besides, she doesn’t wear glasses. OK, I’ll stop embarrassing you. For now. So where did you grow up?
I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. After World War II and graduating from UK, my grandfather took the Hillbilly Highway north from Kentucky. He was a mechanical engineer who designed coal mine equipment and then commercial HVAC systems. I graduated from Upper Arlington High School and then went to Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

And you majored in history?
Yes M’am.

Bob, we’re cousins. And I’m not that old. You don’t have to M’am me.
I… I don’t know how not to do that.

Oh. Wait. Maybe I am that old. At what age does M’am-ing begin?
You are hardly that. Just guess my mom drilled me pretty hard on M’am and Sir.

Well, I am LOVING that you helped get Sir Barack Obama elected! Tell us how you got involved in his campaign!
Well, I started as a volunteer essentially. I had seen how well he did in Iowa and New Hampshire. He didn’t win those states, but he wasn’t knocked out. He was coming to Ohio next. So I signed up to volunteer. And two days later, I got a call asking if I’d come out for a drink.

BARACK OBAMA INVITED YOU FOR DRINKS?
No, his organization. They were having a young professionals meeting at a bar to talk about volunteer opportunities. I still had a year or so left of school, but I believed in his campaign so much that I took the quarter off and worked in his Ohio headquarters.

We lost that primary, and I assumed that I’d go back to school. But they called two weeks later and asked me to volunteer in Pennsylvania. So I went there to do a get out the vote drive. And then I was asked to do the same thing in North Carolina. We lost both states, but we won my particular areas by at least 10 percent!

And then what?
After the primaries were over, I assumed I’d go back to Ohio and start summer classes. But then I got another call saying that I had 15 minutes to decide whether to accept a paying position to work on Obama’s campaign in Appleton, Wisc. So within four days, my apartment was moved out, my lease was broken and I moved to Appleton, which is a very conservative area.

What was your role there?

I became deputy regional field director for the 8th Congressional District. The exciting thing was that even though the area is so conservative — it’s the home of the John Birch Society — we took 55 percent of the vote.

Did you ever get to meet Obama?
No. He came through Pennsylvania on a train stop tour, and I was invited to go, but I had so much work to do. A lot of volunteers felt that way. We wanted to do a good job, so we knocked on doors instead.

Woo-Hoo! Bob, that must have been SO EXCITING! But to put your education on hold? Was that a difficult decision?

There are very few times in your life when you can do something like this — and I just knew I should be doing something. I felt like if I didn’t, I’d be failing myself, my family, my friends and my country. This was a chance to get my fingernails dirty. To go 36 hours without sleep. It’s a young person’s game. Once you start having a family, you’re no longer as mobile.

Then the election came….
Yes, it all ended Nov. 4, and we all slept until Nov. 6. We slowly took down the office and everyone just left. It was strange because you create such close bonds, and then it ends very quickly.

Speaking of close bonds, you must have dated tons of great women on the political trail!
There were a couple, but frankly I was too busy and too tired. They could have thrown a brick in my face saying, “I love you,” and I wouldn’t have noticed. The demoralized state of everyone physically was something to behold.

Bob, you mean you gave up your love life for our country?
Hah! Well relationships on the campaign are always dangerous. Actually, they’re called “locationships” because you’re only in a place for six months to a year and then you’re gone.

Well, you’re in Paducah for a while. Are you open to a locationship here?
I suppose. We’ll see. I don’t know very many people here.

Well, you go to Etcetera Coffeehouse a lot. That’s a good place to meet people.
Yes, I usually go around 5 p.m. and sit and read a bit. I like the eclectic group of folks there.

You should date the Radioactive City Roller Girls!

Which one? 



All of them! Do you like tattoos?
I think tattoos are fine. Anyone willing to wear themselves on their sleeve is worthy of conversation.

So what kind of gal are you looking for?
Honesty and commitment to something bigger than yourself are both pretty attractive. But I don’t set parameters. Just be yourself, and we’ll see where it leads – friendship, romance…. Who knows?

I know you’re thinking of heading back to school.
Yes, but I’m hoping to do a long road trip first. I love to drive. If I’m in my car, I’m generally happy. I want to go from Mexico to Alaska for two to three months, and just camp out along the way.

Sounds like you could use a travel partner.
Our Labrador, Dusty, would love to go. Claim new territory!

Well, Bob Marsh, you are just darling. Any chance that you might run for office? You’d attract some very cute volunteers!
It would take a whole lot of soul searching, and it would be something I’d do when I’m 40 or 50 years old. It’s a heck of a thing. I think I would prefer to write speeches than to give them. I don’t feel need to be on a camera. I like the idea of being able to walk out on a balcony shirtless and not worry about people below taking photos. 

But you’re so cute.
I’d rather be anonymous.

With your good looks? Impossible, Bob Marsh!

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