Private Sector Republican Job Prospects Boosted Ahead of Elections

Republican lobbyists, consultants, and contractors are polishing their resumes, expecting their job prospects to turn around as more polls point to GOP wins in the November elections.

The New York Times reported Thursday that some lobbying firms, trade groups and corporations are already seeking to hire more Republicans "to bolster their political fortunes."

And salaries for Republicans in the private sector have risen "significantly" over the last few weeks, according to headhunters.

"We're seeing a premium for Republicans," Ivan H. Adler, a lobbyist for the McCormick Group in Washington, told the newspaper. "They're the new 'It' girl."

Some organizations have already hired some prominent Republicans in recent months, according to the Times:

JPMorgan Chase, among at least a dozen recent hires, brought in Mel Martinez, the former Republican senator from Florida, as a senior executive. Robert L. Wilkie, a top Pentagon official in the administration of President George W. Bush, was hired by CH2M Hill, a construction and design firm, as a vice president overseeing military projects. And Research in Motion, which makes the BlackBerry, hired Jason C. Scism, a top Republican aide to Representative Darrell Issa of California, into an executive spot that was last held by a Democrat.

It's potentially a new ballgame for the GOP, whose members had a hard time finding political jobs in the private sector after Barack Obama was elected.