Political Consultants Bonus

Political Consultants Receive Bonuses for Victory

I am originally from Oregon, and the state's major publication has an article describing the rewards to political consultants for a victory. This is specifically about Oregon political consultants receiving bonuses (we'll see whether Gordon Smith or David Merkley is handing out the reward soon), but I am sure victorious political consultants across the country received some form of recompense. Here is more on Oregon campaign consultants' bonuses from the Oregonian:

With Election Day in the rearview mirror, it's bonus time for campaign managers and consultants. Under a little-known piece of Oregon's election practices, they can collect bonus money for helping a candidate score a November victory.

Those working for Oregon legislators in the 2006 election collected bonuses as high as $5,000. Sen. Vicki Walker, a Eugene Democrat, paid that amount to Seattle consultant Michael Grossman after he helped her get re-elected in 2006.

Although bonuses have sparked questions and complaints in the past, state officials have said they are permitted under Oregon law.

The bonuses show up in campaign finance records, though they're rarely labeled that way. But thanks to the spot checks that became part of Oregon law in 2005, we know the details of at least five bonuses in the 2006 election. All were paid by Democrats.

Full article here.

Tags: Campaign consultants, political consultants, political consultant, Democrats, election 2008, political campaigns, politics, Gordon Smith, Jeff Merkley, Oregon politics

David Axelrod and Barack Obama

The David Axelrod and Barack Obama Campaign

The New Republic has an interesting article on David Axelrod's work for the Obama campaign. Most pundits and political commentators have referred to the Obama campaign as smart and disciplined from his emergence as a U.S. senator through the Democratic presidential primary and still today.

With David Axelrod at the helm, Barack Obama's campaign has been able to resist the temptation of playing into racial politics, overcome potential campaign-enders like the Reverand Jeremiah Wright controversy and the "bitter" comment. A politician's judgement can often be shown by who he surrounds himself with and both candidates have smart political advisers, but Axelrod seems to have the edge this time.

Permanent Link: David Axelrod and Barack Obama

Tags: David Axelrod, Barack Obama, Political Campaign, 2008 presidential election, Democrats, John McCain, David Axelrod political strategy

McCain and Obama Clash on Meet the Press

McCain and Obama Clash on Meet the Press

McCain and Obama Clash on Meet the Press, Via Consultants

Here's an interesting video with senators McCain and Obama's political strategists debating on Meet the Press. There's some obvious tension that makes for a good video, but I was disappointed that Rick Davis, McCain's chief strategist, didn't appear alongside Obama's chief consultant. Here is Steve Schmidt and David Axelrod first on the economy then on the war:

Political Consultants News

Political Consulting News

Are Political Consultants As Important as They Portray Themselves to Be?

A story last year in the New York Times about political consultants raises some important questions about their importance, specifically: How do they effect a campaign's message, how do they sway voters, and are they the deciding factor in a campaign winning or losing?

I would say that political consultants and advisers play a critical role and in some cases they can make or break an election. This is not to say that political advisers have the total rule over an election but, as this election has shown dramatically, they are a key addition to any candidate. For example, the infamous example of "Dukakis in the Tank" where Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis severely injured his chances of winning in an ill-advised photo op. Hoping to cash in on Margaret Thatcher's previous good publicity, he jumped in a tank for this photograph which his opponent George H.W. Bush seized to define Dukakis as a unfit Commander-in-Chief.

No doubt, his team of political consultants had some say in pushing for the photo and it is arguably one of the leading factors in why President H.W. Bush won that year.

Now, poltical advisers don't always hurt their candidates, often times they lead their boss to victory. Another famous political consultant is Karl Rove. Say what you will about his questionable tactics, but Rove led President Bush to victory in 2000 and played a big role in 2004's victory as well. Karl Rove has also impacted past Republican elections and been successful in the majority the campaigns that he has been involved in.

So, in response to the NY Times article, I would say that political consultants obviously have a big impact in elections but it is unclear whether they change a candidate's core message. I would argue that John McCain has adopted stances on key issues that are more suitable to the Republican base at the behest of his advisers. However, this isn't to go so far as to say he is a different politician only because of his advisers but it makes a decent case for the extent in which political consultants can effect a candidate's overall message.

Political consultants are crucial for a candidate and this is evident in the increase in consultants over recent years as well as the payment they receive.

Political Consulting Firms List

Political Consulting Firms List

List of Political Consulting Firms

Here is a list of political consulting firms from Political Base:

Political Consulting Firms List

• Anne Lewis Strategies LLC
• Benenson Strategy Group
• Carmen Group
• Chesapeake Enterprises
• Davis, Manafort & Freedman
• DC Navigators
• Dewey Square Group
• Dresner, Wickers & Associates, LLC
• Eudy Company
• Grunwald Communications
• Jefferson Consulting Group
• McLaughlin Associates
• Podesta Group
• Public Strategies, Inc.
• Quorum Strategies
• RDW Group
• Strategic Telemetry
• Tarrance Group

Political Consulting Video

Political Consulting Video

How LinkedIn Helps Political Consultants

"Your Rolodex on steroids" is how one consultant describes LinkedIn, the vastly popular professional networking website. Here is a video that reveals how LinkedIn has positively effected some major campaign consultants and most political consultants:

Howard Wolfson

Howard Wolfson Blogs

I would like to extend a welcome to Howard Wolfson on his joining the bloggers at the New Republic.



Howard Wolfson is, of course, the former Communications Director for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign and frequent blogger at both the Flack and the GothamAcme. Wolfson played a major role in Clinton's unsuccessful bid for the presidency and was a nice counter to the "big personality" of Mark Penn. In true Wolfson-style he has already made news headlines in only his third blog post at TNR by quelling rumors of a brewing "cat fight" between Senator Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. I look forward to reading more from Wolfson and hope that once the election ends some of the major advisers to the candidate will take on similar roles.

Maybe then I can get some insight into how these campaigns helped their candidates survive so many potential political deaths.