Campaigns & Elections back issues from February 2006:
Editor's note.
Feb 01, 2006; ... For decades political strategists often wasted their campaigns' precious resources, because insufficient research led them to target wrong people with inefficient messages. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now, highly specific microtargeting strategies allow consultants to ...
Readers' thoughts.(Letter to the Editor)
Feb 01, 2006; ... To The Editor: Congratulations on your new feature, "Best Statehouse Eats" by Robin T. Reid. We would like to put in a word from New Jersey. One of the oldest state capitols, Trenton has a long tradition of fine dining, especially where the politicians congregate. ...
Time to say goodbye.(ON THE RECORD)
Feb 01, 2006; ... After 12 years and 10 months writing this column, it's time to say goodbye. When my home state's U.S. senator, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, recently asked me to become her chief of staff, it was an offer I couldn't refuse. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The unspeakable ...
Setting the slang.
Feb 01, 2006; ... Betcha don't know the original definition of a "comer." Back in 1879, the Oxford English Dictionary said a comer was a crab. Why? "A crab ... is always very poor to begin with; but he eats everything he gets hold of, which fattens him up some. Then he is called a comer." By ...
Best statehouse eats.(restaurants)(Directory)
Feb 01, 2006; ... In our ongoing efforts to keep our readers in the know--and well-fed and watered--we've gotten some tips on where to go in the capitals of New York, California and Texas. Albany, New York Angelo's Prime Rib, 677 Broadway, 518-42 PRIME (7-7463), http://677prime.com ...
Political trivia.(INSIDE POLITICS)
Feb 01, 2006 ... States with the smallest margins between their top two candidates in presidential elections between 1904-2000. 1. New Hampshire in 1916, when Woodrow Wilson beat Charles Evans Hughes by 56 votes. 2. Hawaii in 1960, when John F. Kennedy beat Richard Nixon by 115 votes ...
Potential 2008 presidential candidates make the rounds.(INSIDE POLITICS)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... <Pre> Iowa * visits John Kerry (D)3 John Edwards (D) 4 Evan Bayh (D) 2 Bill Richardson (D) 1 Mark Warner (D) 1 Russ Feingold (D) 1 Tom Vilsack (D) 1 Joe Biden (D) 1 Wes Clark (D) 1 George Allen (R) ...
Direct-mail consultant Duane Baughman is seeking the spotlight--sort of.(NEW JOBS)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Direct-mail consultant Duane Baughman is seeking the spotlight--sort of. He's coproducing the off-Broadway play "RFK: A Portrait of Robert F. Kennedy," which is showing at 45 Bleecker Theater in New York until Feb. 26. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Baughman appreciates ...
American Institute of Architects.(Ron Faucheux appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Ron Faucheux, former editor and publisher of Campaigns & Elections magazine, is going back into government. The former elected official in Louisiana has been named chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., where he hopes to help his home state's post-Katrina recovery and ...
International Association of Political Consultants.(Ben Goddard appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Ben Goddard becomes the president of the International Association of Political Consultants for 2006 and 2007. He replaced Volker Riegger of Germany, who held the job for the last two years. Goddard is a partner with Goddard Claussen Strategic Advocacy, a public affairs firm ...
Glover Park Group.(Susan Brophy appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Susan Brophy, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, has joined the Glover Park Group as a partner in the public relations and communications firm's legislative affairs division. Most recently, Brophy had been senior vice president in Time Warner's ...
FFD Inc.(Nicholas Benson appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Nicholas Benson joined FFD Inc., a fundraising firm in Virginia Beach, as a senior associate ....
Center for Responsive Politics.(Massie Ritsch appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Massie Ritsch becomes the communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan organization that tracks the influence of money on elections and public policy. Before he joined the center, Ritsch was a communications strategist for Sugerman ...
Winning Directions.(NEW JOBS)(Van Parish appointed as new senior vice president)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Van Parish is the new senior vice president of Winning Directions, a direct mail firm. Parish will work in the ...
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.(Anna Greenberg appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Anna Greenberg is the newest partner at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. She had been a vice president. Greenberg joined the firm in 2001 and handles the company's work with issue ...
Group 360 Communications and JMG Direct merged late last year and have named the new firm 360JMG.(FIRM CHANGES)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Group 360 Communications and JMG Direct merged late last year and have named the new firm 360JMG. Based in Washington, the communications firm handles advertising, new media, direct mail and public relations for ...
Point Blank Public Affairs.(Amy Weiss and Debra DeShong's organization formation)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Amy Weiss and Debra DeShong have started their own company, Point Blank Public Affairs. Point Blank will provide strategic counseling, crisis communications, litigation communications strategy, issue advocacy, message development and media training. Weiss is based in Washington, D.C., and ...
Washington State Democratic Party.(Viet Sheltonb appointed as communications director)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Viet Shelton joins the Washington State Democratic Party as communications director, a position that's been open for several months since Kirstin Brost left to ...
Ohio Democratic Party.(PARTY LINES)(Chris Redfern appointed as chairman)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... State Rep. Chris Redfern was elected chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. Redfern replaces Dennis White, who resigned to become deputy director ...
Vermont Democratic Party.(PARTY LINES)(Andy Bouska appointed as communications director)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... The Vermont Democratic Party hired Andy Bouska as its full-time communications director. His job there is to develop a communications strategy and keep party leaders informed. ...
Republican Governors Association.(PARTY LINES)(Philip A. Musser appointed as an executive director)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... At the Republican Governors Association, Philip A. Musser has become the new executive director. Prior, he was vice president at Dutko ...
R & R Partners.(Mike Pieper appointed)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Musser replaced Mike Pieper, who left the association to become managing director ...
Campaign consultant sign-ups.
Feb 01, 2006 ... Blaemire Communications/D -- voter lists, direct mail, political Wyoming Democratic PartyMissouri Democratic Party New Mexico Democratic Party BuzzMaker, LLC (D) -- eCampaign strategy Jeff Bingaman (in), NM, Sen. '06 ...
Ten questions for Evan Spiridellis.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)(JibJab)(Interview)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Brothers Even and Gregg Spiridellis founded JibJab in 1999, and its cartoons increasingly focused on politics, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign for governor in California's 2003 recall election. For the 2004 presidential election, JibJab created a Flash movie called "This Land," ...
Ten questions for Gregg Spiridellis.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)(JibJab)(Interview)
Feb 01, 2006 ... According to the brothers Spiridellis, JibJab is a profitable, growing business that makes money primarily through animation they produce for outside firms. The firm has also secured exclusive contracts with MSN and Yahoo!, and offer DVDs of content and downloads for sale on its Web site ....
The political bull's-eye: persuading the right people with microtargeting.(FEATURE)
Feb 01, 2006; ... When you talk with the staff of TargetPoint Consulting, you can forget you're discussing politics. There's little discussion of polls, personalities or congressional scandals. The buzzwords here are "census blocks," "data overlays" and "SPSS software right out of the box." But this is ...
Immigration blues: issue divides Republicans as midterms near.(FEATURE)
Feb 01, 2006; ... Convenience stores usually blend into the landscape. Not every convenience store, however. The 7-Eleven at Alabama Drive and Elden Street in the D.C. suburb of Herndon, Va., has been hard to ignore for the past two years. The ubiquitous retailer known for 44-ounce Big Gulps has been at the ...
Eye of the beholder: defining negative campaigning.
Feb 01, 2006; ... Since the 1984 presidential race was a snoozer that would result in Ronald Reagan's 49-state landslide reelection victory, much of the political world turned its gaze to North Carolina. There, a brawl of a Senate race had begun more than a year and a half before Election Day; the incumbent ...
Update: the winners and losers of 2005.(POLITICAL CONSULTANT WIN-LOSS RECORDS)
Feb 01, 2006; ... After each election cycle, Campaigns & Elections presents the win--loss records of political consultants across the nation. This is the supplement to the original Win-Loss records published in the December 2005/ January 2006 issue. For information on codes and designations ...
Alabama.(Chief Justice Roy Moore into the June Republican primary for governor against incumbent Bob Riley)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... With the entrance of former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore into the June Republican primary for governor against incumbent Bob Riley, many expected the race to revolve around social and religious issues. However, issues of taxation have emerged as contrasts between the two well-known ...
Alaska.(Tony Knowles planning for recontest for the Governor's post)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Former Gov. Tony Knowles (D) is contemplating a comeback. His successor as governor, Republican Frank Murkowski, has experienced a bumpy term and has not said whether he will seek re-election. Knowles, who lost a 2004 U.S. Senate ...
Arizona.(Janet Napolitano's criminal policies)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... To better tackle Arizona's problems with crime stemming from illegal immigration problems, Gov. Janet Napolitano asked that Arizona National Guard troops be sent to the Mexican border. This is a change ...
Arkansas.(earns more than $26.8 million in federal funds in two years)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Having an official outpost in Washington, D.C., has helped Arkansas get more than $26.8 million in federal funds in two years, according to a story in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Gov. Mike Huckabee's ...
California.(Arnold Schwarzenegger 's re-election)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is moving to the center to appease the left-leaning Golden State electorate, since a majority of Californians disapprove of his performance. In his state of the state address, he apologized to Californian's for holding a very unpopular special election. He also ...
Colorado.(political parties fight over the state legislatures)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... Republicans are in the midst of a nasty feud that could undermine any chance they have to take back the state legislature from Democrats in 2006 (not to mention holding the governor's mansion). The bickering has been going on quietly for years, with moderate Republicans chafing over the ...
Connecticut.(public financing system)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... The General Assembly passed a comprehensive campaign finance overhaul package that included limitations on lobbyists and contractors, as well as a public financing system for all state elections starting in 2007. This was the first time such a comprehensive system was enacted by a ...
Delaware.(politcal impact on major industries)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... In better times, Delaware was a cozy, Northeast Corridor nook for national fund-raisers of all political persuasions. But rising fuel and raw material costs hit Delaware's chemical manufacturing industry hard in 2005. In July 2005, credit card giant MBNA--the state's largest ...
District of Columbia.(Marion Barry's drug use)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... D.C. councilman Marion Barry tested positive for cocaine in a voluntary drug test, the Washington Post reported in January. The former mayor was forever linked with drugs after he was filmed smoking crack cocaine in 1990 during an FBI sting operation. Last fall, he pleaded guilty to tax ...
Florida.(lobbying reform legislation)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... On the ethics and lobbying front, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature recently passed major lobbying reform legislation during a special session called by Gov. Jeb Bush to begin his Medicaid-reform program. The newly passed legislation took effect on Jan. 1,2006. It includes a ...
Georgia.(Ralph Reed's contest for the Governor post)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... The big news in Georgia is how deeply the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal will affect Ralph Reed, the high-profile Republican running for his party's lieutenant governor nomination. Speculation is running rampant about the future of Reed's first bid for public office. If Reed is ...
Hawaii.(recycling policies)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... In 2004, Hawaii state legislators set up a government department just to manage collection of bottles and cans. As of January 2005, consumers are penalized six cents per item unless they are turned into a government-recycling center washed and organized. If they cooperate, consumers get ...
Idaho.(prohibiting same-sex marriage)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... The Idaho Values Alliance and other supporters of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage are trying to bring the issue to the table this year. All attempts to ...
Illinois.(L. Tammy Duckworth's senatorial run)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... L. Tammy Duckworth may be the most poignant entrant in the race for Henry Hyde's seat in the U.S. House. The 37-year-old Army pilot lost her legs while she was flying a Black ...
Indiana.(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Gov. Mitch Daniels kicked off Indiana's legislative year by telling lawmakers that Hoosiers weigh, drink and smoke too much, and exercise too little. To address one of those problems, the Republican governor proposed tacking on at ...
Iowa.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(utility terminations of homes with children and seniors)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... With high winter heating bills on the way, lowa state Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, wants to give the Iowa Department of Public Health specific rule-making authority to declare utility terminations of Iowa homes with children and seniors a public health ...
Kansas.(Kathleen Sebelius, geubernatorial run for another term)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius looks likely to cruise to a second term in this strongly Republican state, thanks in part to continuing rifts between the state party's moderate and conservative wings. Sebelius won the top state office in 2002 after a divisive Republican primary battle ...
Kentucky.(Dana Seum Stephenson's election)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... A contentious, yearlong election dispute over a seat in the Kentucky state Senate recently came to an end. In November 2004, Republican Dana Seum Stephenson narrowly defeated Democrat Virginia Woodward for a state Senate seat. However, Kentucky courts subsequently ruled Stephenson did not ...
Louisiana.(mayoral elections)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... Before Hurricane Katrina New Orleans last August 2005, the city's mayoral election had been scheduled for Feb. 4, 2006. Secretary of State Al Ater postponed it after the storm, contending it was logistically impossible to hold the election. Several groups filed suit to force an election, ...
Maine.(local elections)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... The first day of session for the Maine Legislature got off to a bizarre start in January when neither party had the majority for a few hours. The makeup of the 151-member House of Representatives was tied with 73 Republicans and 73 Democrats (plus three independents and 1 Green) ...
Maryland.(Michael Steele political activity)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Democratic activists continue to dismiss the chances of Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) in his U.S. Senate bid. Steele, who is black, is hoping to take away parts of the traditional black Democratic voting base. Yet the likely nominee, U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin, has shown repeated vote-getting ...
Massachusetts.(gubernatorial elections)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... The governor's race is getting mounds of media attention, but the understudy's contest is also worth watching. Three Democrats are running for lieutenant governor. Though the job holds little power, in recent years it has been a steppingstone to higher political office. The current ...
Michigan.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(economic condition of Michigan)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Michigan's troubled economy should finally begin to turn around in 2007 and 2008, Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently told state residents. The state's legislature enacted an economic development plan that will leverage up to $2 billion in tobacco settlement money, into private ...
Minnesota.(Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)(Brief article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... In the U.S. Senate race, the GOP has selected and gotten solidly behind U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, while the DFL nomination remains a two-way horse race between Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar and child safety advocate Patty Wetterling. Klobuchar has been leading decisively in fund ...
Mississippi.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(taxation)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... The 2006 legislative session has gotten off to a taxing start. Republican Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck proposed increasing cigarette taxes and offsetting it by eliminating the sales tax on groceries. Her legislation passed the Senate in the first week of the session. But it puts her at odds with Gov ....
Missouri.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(taxes on tobacco)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... Missourians may see two competing tax increases--both of which would hike the state's levy on tobacco by 80 cents a pack--on November's ballot. The first proposal, sponsored by health associations and hospitals, would allocate the largest share of the receipts toward higher payments to ...
Montana.(Conrad Burns' political activity)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Polls continue to show GOP U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns vulnerable in 2006. Two Democrats, state Senate President Jon Tester and state Auditor John Morrison, are vying for their party's nomination. Each is within striking distance of Burns, who has returned $150,000 that he got from disgraced ...
Nebraska.(ACROSS STATE LINES)
Feb 01, 2006; ... January marked the beginning of the end for 20 of the 49 members of Nebraska's unique one-house Legislature, which convened for its 60-day "short" session on Jan. 4. It is the first class of state senators to be impacted by the two-term limit approved by voters via constitutional amendment ...
Nevada.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(prescription drugs)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... The State Board of Pharmacy is moving forward with a plan to allow Nevada residents to get prescription drugs from Canada despite objections from state Attorney General George Chanos. The law passed in ...
New Hampshire.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(political visits of presidential candidates)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... A spirited discussion within the Democratic Party over New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary certainly did not stop potential presidential candidates from testing the state's political waters last year. Seventeen potential candidates visited the state in 2005 ...
New Jersey.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Robert Menendez joined Senate)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... With Robert Menendez named by Gov. Jon Corzine as his successor in the U.S. Senate, a primary battle is shaping in the 13th Congressional District to determine whom the Democrats will nominate to run for the safe seat Menendez has vacated. Assemblyman Joseph Vas, who is also mayor of Perth ...
New Mexico.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... Gov. Bill Richardson, who is up for re-election and could be a 2008 Democratic presidential hopeful, has already raised $3 million of a $10 million goal. Republicans plan nominate Santa Fe doctor James Damron. Insiders are not optimistic about victory, but say there's a chance ...
New York.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(gubernatorial elections)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... The New York State Republican Party is struggling to choose a slate of candidates for 2006, a potentially watershed election year for both parties. In addition to selecting a new governor, voters will choose a new attorney general and decide whether to return Hillary Clinton to Washington ....
North Carolina.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(congressional elections)(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006; ... U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor (R) has beaten back tough, well-heeled opponents before. But in 2006, the eight-term congressman representing the state's 11th District could face his most formidable election challenge yet. Former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler is a Democrat with a name who is also ...
North Dakota.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(rules for campaigning )(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... The North Dakota Supreme Court adopted new rules for campaigning to be a judge. Candidates may not advertise partisan affiliation, attend political meetings or seek party endorsements. The new rules also restrict judicial candidates ...
Ohio.(ACROSS STATE LINES)(Michael Coleman )(Brief Article)
Feb 01, 2006 ... Democrats moved closer to consensus on a gubernatorial nominee for 2006, now that Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman has dropped out. U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland may still face opposition in the May primary but has built up a healthy campaign war chest. The steelworker's son has the solid backing ...