If you're a political junkie -- guilty -- you're likely looking forward to the upcoming conventions. Just the prospect of an election with no incumbent running sets 2008 up as an exciting election, and with only 24% of the country believing that America is going in the right direction, this is definitely a time for change.

NBC News is opting to insert an element of change in its convention coverage. The network announced today that the late Tim Russert's son, Luke, has been hired by NBC News and will be put on his father's beat, politics.

Luke Russert's first assignment is Decision 2008, where he will be correspondent-at-large at both the Democratic and Republican conventions. While this hiring smacks of nepotism -- or allegiance to the memory of Tim -- Luke is not without some journalistic skills. He's a Boston College graduate, majoring in History and Communications, and has been co-hosting a sports talk show on XM Satellite Radio. He shares the microphone for that program, 60/20 Sports, with political analyst James Carville.

NBC News President Steve Capus said in a press release, "Never before in an election cycle has so much attention turned to the youth vote, and Luke will bring a unique perspective to covering it."

Luke, in response, said, "I am extremely humbled and grateful that NBC News is giving me this opportunity."

I could sound jaded and snark that he's lucky to have the in with NBC that he does, but that would be stating the obvious. It is about who you know in this world, and while the last name Russert is opening a door for Luke with NBC, if he doesn't deliver the goods, he won't be around for long.

I have not heard his radio show, but I did catch Luke filling in for Tony Reali on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption the other day and he made a good impression. He knows sports. Once he starts reporting on the conventions, we'll learn how much he knows about politics.