Shuffield Leaves McCain's Senate Office

By Amie Parnes

(The Politico)  In just seven months, Melissa Shuffield has gone from press secretary in Sen. John McCain's Senate office to jet setting on the senator's Straight Talk Express at the height of her boss' grueling presidential campaign. 

Now she finds herself... in Spain.

That's right.  Shuffield, McCain's bubbly and popular press secretary has moved on, quitting her job with McCain after more than two years of gabbing on the senator's behalf. Now, she is grabbing a little R & R in one of her favorite spots in the world.

Shuffield, 29, who most recently served as a spokesperson for Cindy McCain during the presidential election, left McCain's employ shortly after the Arizona senator lost his bid for the presidency, a fairly common practice in the post-campaign dance where staffers mull other job avenues.

Brooke Buchanan, a traveling press aide and assistant to McCain during his White House bid, has taken over as McCain's Senate press secretary.

Reached on Tuesday, Shuffield would not comment on her departure.

McCain aides say Shuffield is already missed.

"We don't normally discuss personnel issues but we love Melissa. She's great," Buchanan said.

Shuffield, who began her career at the PR firm Porter Novelli,  joined McCain's press team after serving as Deputy Press Secretary to Sen. Mel Martinez, (R-Fla.). 

In a profile written in Politico earlier this year, colleagues credited Shuffield with having "the gift for gab" and for being well-versed on both policy and politics.