Linda DiVall is founder, pres. and CEO of American Viewpoint, a public opinion research and strategic message consulting firm. Since founding the firm in '85, DiVall has become the foremost expert in the GOP on developing and implementing strategies on the gender gap. In '04, the Bush-Cheney campaign asked DiVall to serve as a member of their polling team. Since '88, she has served as a consultant and analyst for CBS News in their election night coverage. And today, DiVall is our "Consultant Candid."

What was your first job?

My first job was selling concessions at Arlington Park Race Track on Wednesday's and Saturday's at age 15. Those were the days I could not play golf. I sold golf pencils on the side to the bettors and made more money on that than I did selling concessions.

What is your proudest moment professionally?

There have been a lot of great moments professionally, starting my own business, celebrating our 20th anniversary of the company launch in 2005. But probably, Election Night 1994 when the GOP took control of Congress and two or our clients -- Sonny Bono and Fred Thompson -- were elected to the House and the Senate. Plus, I was part of the CBS Election Night coverage team where the electricity in reporting this historic moment was awesome.

What one event in a candidate's past would pose the biggest problem in a campaign?

Any time a candidate lies or misrepresents to their team an action or past event is bound to create problems down the road.

If you could be in any other line of work, what would it be?

Most of my friends would predict the answer to this question would be a desire to be on the professional golf tour, but that life is a grind due to constantly being on the road. Given the recent pattern of cancer afflicting my family, and my interest in genetics and DNA, I would have to say that being an oncologist would have a significant appeal.

Negative campaigning -- good or bad?

Negative campaigning is misnamed. A candidate has an obligation to inform the electorate of their opponent's vulnerabilities as to why that is a disqualifier for the job being sought. Campaigns come down to creating compelling differences between the two candidates. I do think given the tremendous change in communications delivery systems that campaigns need to reexamine how they sequence their message and how best to deliver it and break through all the other noise that is out there.

Where is your happy place?

My happy place generally is any golf course on a sunny day. Specifically, it would be playing at Pebble Beach, Cypress Point or watching a practice round at Augusta National, which symbolizes the start of the golf season. What is your favorite restaurant to meet clients?

I can't say that I have a favorite restaurant to meet clients. I enjoy having them pick a place where they are comfortable and can speak honestly about their goals and the type of campaign they wish to wage.

What campaign (past, present or future) would you most like to be a part of?

I would like to run the Presidential campaign for either of my two nephews -- Dennis or Andrew. Perhaps before that, since they are only 11 and 15, it would be neat to be a part of creating a new GOP majority with a female Presidential candidate.

What is the ideal number of clients to have at one time?

The ideal number of candidates depends on the dynamics of the races and the attention they each need but for my team it is probably between 3-5 key races.

What firm/individual who does your kind of work for the other party do you respect the most, and why?

Others have said this before me, but I always learn a lot by participating in panels with a bipartisan mix of pollsters and clients. People like Peter Hart, Celinda Lake, Harrison Hickman, Mark Mellman and Geoff Garin are very smart strategists and likeable people. You quickly discover the professionalism they each have of their craft and their passion for electing Democrats who share their philosophy. In that regard, there is a great degree of similarity across the party divide.

What is the first section of the newspaper you read?

The first section of the paper I read is the Sports Section, it's a kinder, gentler way of easing into the day and something I can read on the elliptical machine while working out in the morning.

If you could only watch one news show, what would it be?

My one news show would have to be The Lehrer News Hour as it is civilized and thorough. Screaming guests are not tolerated.

We're ending this feature with a question posed by the last interviewee. This is from Fletcher Rowley Chao Riddle's Bill Fletcher: What political blogs do you visit on a daily basis?

I simply read the Hotline summary of the blogs.

Pose a question for the next interviewee.

When will the GOP regain control of Congress and what will be the contributing factors to the Democratic downfall?