Though I was told I could take credit for this, I really can’t. A friend put it together and I’m going to recirculate it.
When you start vetting Republican candidates, you will inevitably hear some sweet nothing coming from the mouth of one of the candidates attempting to woo you over to side. That candidate might even sound conservative. Want to figure out if the person is or is not a real conservative? Look at the consultants:
Over the last four election cycles, there have been many hotly contested Republican primary contests for the House, Senate, and Governorships. Most of these have been personality-driven contests for open seats, rather than ideological battles for the soul of the party. However, there have been a number of primaries which were contested mainly on ideological grounds – between a liberal or moderate candidate and one or more conservatives.
We looked at eighteen key primary contests from 2002 to 2008 in order to determine whether any Republican consulting firms were very likely to consistently work for the more liberal candidate. The eighteen contests were chosen based on there being a clear ideological division between a liberal or moderate and one or more credible conservative opponents. These races include challenges to incumbents, such as the Pat Toomey vs. Arlen Specter in the 2004 Pennsylvania Senate primary and open seats such as Doug Ose vs. Tom McClintock for CA CD 4 in 2008.
In examining these races, we found a clear pattern of certain political consulting firms tending to nearly always side with the liberal or moderate candidate rather than with the conservative.
In eight different primaries, pollster Public Opinion Strategies worked for the most liberal Republican candidate. These included incumbents being challenged, such as Arlen Specter, Lincoln Chafee, and Wayne Gilchrest, and candidates for open seats such as Jim Petro, Bill Weld, and Doug Ose.
Media consultants Stevens, Reed, Curcio, and Potholm, Internet consultant Campaign Solutions, and pollster Moore Information worked for liberal candidates in three of the races a piece. Media consultant Chris Mottola, and pollsters The Tarrance Group and American Viewpoint worked for two.
Public Opinion Strategies (pollster): Arlen Specter (PA Sen 2004), Bill Weld (NY Gov 2006), Jim Petro (OH Gov 2006), Bob Corker (TN Sen 2006), Lincoln Chafee (RI Sen 2006), Heather Wilson (NM Sen 2008), Doug Ose (CA CD 4 2008), Wayne Gilchrest (MD CD 1 2008).
Stevens, Reed, Curcio, and Potholm (media consultant): Judy Baar Topinka (IL Gov 2006), Bob Corker (TN Sen 2006), Lynn Jenkins (KS CD 2 2008)
Campaign Solutions (Internet consultant): Johnny Isakson (GA Sen 2004), Arlen Specter (PA Sen 2004), Bill Weld (NY Gov 2006).
Moore Information (pollster): Lisa Murkowski (AK Sen 2004), Chris Cannon (UT CD 3 2008), Don Young (AK – AL 2008).
Chris Mottola (media consultant) : Arlen Specter (PA Sen 2004), Lincoln Chafee (RI Sen 2006).
The Tarrance Group (pollster): Dean Heller (NV CD 2 2006), Lynn Jenkins (KS CD 2 2006).
American Viewpoint (pollster): Judy Baar Topinka (IL Gov 2006), Johnny Isakson (GA Sen 2004).
One or two of these companies are on this list mainly by coincidence: Campaign Solutions has dozens of Republican campaigns as clients. Others, however, seem to consistently work to promote moderate and liberal Republican candidates. For example, Chris Mottola’s other clients include Gordon Smith and George Pataki, and his firm’s website notes that he was the first consultant to promote a candidate with pro-gay rights advertising.
The GOP primary elections examined for this study were: TN Senate 2002, GA Senate 2004, MI CD 7 2004/2006, OK Senate 2004, AK Senate 2004, PA Senate 2004, NY Gov 2006, IL Gov 2006, OH Gov 2006, TN Senate 2006, RI Senate 2006, NV CD 2 2006, KS CD 2 2008, UT CD 3 2008, NM Senate 2008, AK – AL 2008, CA CD 4 2008, MD CD 1 2008.
One man’s view; political campaign consultants are strumpets
Marcus_Traianus Friday, April 24th at 11:53AM EDT (link)Think about the job for a moment, if you will. These folks sell themselves to the highest bidder. They have to work and are inevitably in search of their next meal. When push comes to shove, consultants will sell their soul in order to get a crust of bread.
As moderate, populist Republican politics became more in vogue, consultants were leading the way with their pie charts and demographic strategies. They, contrary to our values or common sense, pushed candidates towards the identity crisis we are currently experiencing.
I would frankly be much happier if someone led with their heart and intellect, irrespective of what polls and these harlots say. That’s called leadership.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report
One man’s view; political campaign consultants are strumpets
Marcus_Traianus Friday, April 24th at 11:53AM EDT (link)Think about the job for a moment, if you will. These folks sell themselves to the highest bidder. They have to work and are inevitably in search of their next meal. When push comes to shove, consultants will sell their soul in order to get a crust of bread.
As moderate, populist Republican politics became more in vogue, consultants were leading the way with their pie charts and demographic strategies. They, contrary to our values or common sense, pushed candidates towards the identity crisis we are currently experiencing.
I would frankly be much happier if someone led with their heart and intellect, irrespective of what polls and these harlots say. That’s called leadership.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
Contributor to The Minority Report
Very Interesting...
ATLconservative Friday, April 24th at 12:38PM EDT (link)Can we perform the same sort of analysis on campaign handlers? I’m quite naive on the subject, but do presidential campaigns, for instance, hire consulting firms, or individual consultants, or both?
It would be interesting to track consultants/handlers from campaign to campaign. For instance, the Romney handlers who moved over to the McCain campaign and subsequently sabotaged Palin…”allegedly”.
Can anyone shed any light on how all of this works?
Is there a flip side?
Dan McLaughlin Friday, April 24th at 1:00PM EDT (link)I’d be interested to know if the study consistently showed that certain people or firms tended to work for the more conservative candidate in races with these kinds of splits.
“No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong.” - Winston Churchill
Moderate or Conservative...
Stan Olshefski Friday, April 24th at 1:24PM EDT (link)I’d want Public Opinion Strategies or Tarrance Group as my pollster — the two best on the right.
Pick them and you have a good shot at winning.
entire client list
humboldt Friday, April 24th at 4:20PM EDT (link)A lot of these guys are just plain Republicans - and they want to be involved in a race that is going to be competitive - i.e. have some real spending involved and thus provide them a livliehood. I know some of the people involved with most of the firms you mentioned and most are pretty solidly conservative themselves and some are not, but all of them do their best to do good work for whoever hires them.
If you look at their entire client list (as I expect is the case for any consulting firm that isn’t a nitch firm) you will find the full spectrum of idealogies.
Tarrance Clients (from their website)
US SENATORS
JOHN BARRASSO, WY
THAD COCHRAN, MS
MIKE ENZI, WY
CHUCK GRASSLEY, IA
GEORGE VOINOVICH, OH
GOVERNORS
HALEY BARBOUR, MS
LINDA LINGLE, HI
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES
CHARLES BRONSON, FL Ag. Commissioner
TOM CORBETT, PA Attorney General
MIKE EAKIN, PA Supreme Court
TOM HORNE, AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction
MARY TAYLOR, OH Auditor
POLITICAL COMMITTEES
BUSH-CHENEY 2004
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
FLORIDA HOUSE & SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES
REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF MARYLAND
MONROE COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE, NEW YORK
NEW JERSEY REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA
MINNESOTA REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF OHIO
OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS OF VIRGINIA
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEW JERSEY
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WYOMING
WISCONSIN STATE SENATE
COLORADO REPUBLICAN PARTY
GOPAC
US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STEVE AUSTRIA, OH
ROSCOE BARTLETT, MD
BRIAN BILBRAY, CA
GUS BILIRAKIS, FL
JOHN BOEHNER, OH
PAUL BROUN, GA
HENRY BROWN, SC
GINNY BROWN-WAITE, FL
JOHN CARTER, TX
HOWARD COBLE, NC
MIKE COFFMAN, CO
JOHN CULBERSON, TX
GEOFF DAVIS, KY
CHARLIE DENT, PA
MARY FALLIN, OK
PHIL GINGREY, GA
DEAN HELLER, NV
LYNN JENKINS, KS
STEVE KING , IA
TOM LATHAM, IA
STEVE LATOURETTE, OH
CHRIS LEE, NY
FRANK LOBIONDO, NJ
JOHN McHUGH, NY
JOHN MICA, FL
DEVON NUNES, CA
ERIK PAULSEN, MN
TOM PETRI, WI
CHIP PICKERING, MS
BILL POSEY,FL
ADAM PUTNAM, FL
GEORGE RADANOVICH, CA
HAL ROGERS, KY
TOM ROONEY, FL
JEAN SCHMIDT, OH
BILL SHUSTER, PA
CHRIS SMITH, NJ
CLIFF STEARNS, FL
JOHN SULLIVAN, OK
ZACH WAMP, TN
POS Clients (from their website)
Governors
Governor Charlie Crist, FL
Governor Jim Douglas, VT
Governor Jim Gibbons, NV
Governor Dave Heineman, NE
Governor Sonny Perdue, GA
Governor Jodi Rell, CT
Governor Mike Rounds, SD
United States Senators
Senator Richard Burr, NC
Senator Saxby Chambliss, GA
Senator Thad Cochran, MS
Senator Norm Coleman, MN
Senator Bob Corker, TN
Senator Mike Crapo, ID
Senator Jim DeMint, SC
Senator John Ensign, NV
Senator Jim Inhofe, OK
Senator Mike Johanns, NE
Senator Joe Lieberman, CT
Senator John McCain, AZ
Senator Pat Roberts, KS
Senator Olympia Snowe, ME
Senator Arlen Specter, PA
Senator John Thune, SD
Senator David Vitter, LA
Senator Roger Wicker, MS
United States House of Representatives
Congressman Rodney Alexander, LA
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, MN
Congressman Joe Barton, TX
Congressman Jo Bonner, AL
Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr., LA
Congressman Vern Buchanan, FL
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, WV
Congressman Nathan Deal, GA
Congressman David Dreier, CA
Congressman Jimmy Duncan, TN
Congressman John Fleming, LA
Congressman Randy Forbes, VA
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, NE
Congressman Trent Franks, AZ
Congressman Scott Garrett, NJ
Congressman Jim Gerlach, PA
Congressman Bob Goodlatte, VA
Congressman Jack Kingston, GA
Congressman John Kline, MN
Congressman Bob Latta, OH
Congressman John Linder, GA
Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, MI
Congresswoman Candice Miller, MI
Congressman Jeff Miller, FL
Congressman Jerry Moran, KS
Congressman Tim Murphy, PA
Congressman Randy Neugebauer, TX
Congressman Tom Price, GA
Congressman George Radanovich, CA
Congressman Dave Reichert, WA
Congressman Mike Rogers, MI
Congressman Peter Roskam, IL
Congressman Steve Scalise, LA
Congressman Aaron Schock, IL
Congressman John Shadegg, AZ
Congressman John Shimkus, IL
Congressman Adrian Smith, NE
Congressman Lamar Smith, TX
Congressman Lee Terry, NE
Congressman Glenn Thompson, PA
Congressman Pat Tiberi, OH
Congressman Mike Turner, OH
Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, GA
Congressman Rob Wittman, VA
Congressman Frank Wolf, VA
Stevens Reed Curcio clients (from their website)
Governor
Governor George Allen (Virginia)
Governor Lincoln Almond (Rhode Island)
Governor Matt Blunt (Missouri)
Governor Bob Taft (Ohio)
Governor George Voinovich (Ohio)
Senate
U.S. Senator George Allen (Virginia)
U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (Ohio)
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici (New Mexico)
U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (Illinois)
U.S. Senator Bill Frist (Tennessee)
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
U.S. Senator John McCain (Arizona)
U.S. Senator Don Nickles (Oklahoma)
U.S. Senator George Voinovich (Ohio)
U.S. Senator Bob Corker (Tennessee)
House
Congressman Ander Crenshaw (Florida)
Congressman Chris Chocola (Indiana)
Congressman Tom Davis (Virginia)
Congresswoman Tillie Fowler (Florida)
Congressman John Kline (Minnesota)
Congressman Ron Lewis (Kentucky)
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris (Washington)
Congressman Mike Oxley (Ohio)
Congressman Rob Portman (Ohio)
Congressman Gus Bilirakis (Florida)
Congressman Vern Buchanan (Florida)
Congressman Frank LoBiondo (New Jersey)
For the National Republican Senatorial Committee
U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (Colorado)
U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (Kentucky)
U.S. Senator Richard Burr (North Carolina)
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (Maine)
U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (South Carolina)
U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (Wyoming)
U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (North Carolina)
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (Florida)
U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
U.S. Senator Jim Talent (Missouri)
U.S. Senator David Vitter (Louisiana)
For the National Republican Congressional Committee
Congressman Joe Barton (Texas)
Congressman Jeb Bradley (New Hampshire)
Congressman Charles Boustany (Louisiana)
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia)
Congressman Geoff Davis (Kentucky)
Congressman Jim Gerlach (Pennsylvania)
Congressman Mark Kirk (Illinois)
Congressman Thad McCotter (Michigan)
Congresswoman Anne Northup (Kentucky)
Congressman Ted Poe (Texas)
Congressman Peter Roskam (illinois>
Mayor
Mayor Bob Corker (Chattanooga, TN)
Mayor Bill Haslam (Knoxville, TN)
Mayor John Peyton (Jacksonville, FL)
With that many clients with that much of an idealogy spread, it seems pretty hard to say “this is a liberal firm” or “this is a conservative firm”