LSU political communication student and Daily Reveille reporter Ginger Gibson experienced the 2008 presidential race as a student blogger, joining 17 other Manship School students in Iowa to observe that state’s presidential nominating caucuses.

This time, just four years later, Gibson will have a much better and more prestigious vantage point for observing presidential politics.

The Washington, D.C.-based political newspaper Politico announced this week that Gibson will join its staff in early November as a national politics reporter.

Gibson currently is a politics reporter for the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

“Her sharp and tireless reporting on [New Jersey Gov.] Chris Christie caught our attention some time ago, and the more closely we looked, the more we realized she is a blazing talent who was built for our Politics team,” Charles Mahtesian, Politico’s National Politics Editor, said in an email to Politico staff.  

In his memo, Mahtesian added, “She comes to us from The Star-Ledger, where she spent the last year chronicling the Christie governorship and New Jersey politics. Prior to that, Ginger covered politics and government for The News Journal in Delaware, where she drew notice for her aggressive coverage of Christine O'Donnell in the 2010 Senate race. Ginger is a 2008 graduate of Louisiana State University, where she worked for The Daily Reveille, the student publication, and interned at The News Journal and The Times-Picayune. A Port Arthur, Texas, native, Ginger is a rabid sports fan and amateur foodie. Following the conclusion of the 2012 election cycle, we'll marry Ginger's political savvy and her statehouse experience: She'll join our Congress team."