Obama Adds Another Longtime Party Operative
Sen. Barack Obama has brought on veteran party operative Erik Smith as a consultant to his campaign, the latest in a string of moves to install longtime party strategists in senior positions on his staff.
Smith has been tasked to work with Larry Grisolano ("Griz" to his friends) on the development of paid media (read: ads) and coordination of the campaign's television advertising.
Neither Smith nor the Obama campaign would comment on the hiring.
Obama, unlike past Democratic nominees who relied largely on a single pollster and media consultant, has put in place six teams of consultants and pollsters in hopes of capitalizing on the regional expertise of the broader group.
Smith's role is not dissimilar to the one he played in 2004 when he headed up the Media Fund -- a 527 committee that ran millions of dollars worth of television ads against President Bush.
Prior to his work for the Media Fund, Smith handled communications for the 2004 presidential bid of then Rep. Dick Gephardt (Mo.) with whom he had long worked.
Smith also has long ties to David Plouffe, the mastermind who sits atop the Obama campaign. Smith and Plouffe first met on Sen. Tom Harkin's (Iowa) ill-fated bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992. Two years later, Smith and Plouffe worked together on then Delaware Attorney General Charlie Oberly's unsuccessful race against Sen. Bill Roth (R). (Plouffe, like the Post's beloved Paul "PK" Kane, is a graduate of the University of Delaware.)
During the 2000 cycle, Smith and Plouffe were together again -- this time at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee where Smith was communications director and Plouffe served as executive director.
What Smith's hiring -- as well as a number of recent pickups by Obama -- shows is that while the Illinois senator is running as an outsider, he is not ignoring the collected campaign wisdom of those who have come before him.
By
Chris Cillizza
|
July 9, 2008; 7:12 PM ET
Categories:
Eye on 2008
Save & Share:
Previous: The Two Johns: How Kerry and McCain Grew Apart
Next: How Matt Drudge Rules the (Political) World
Posted by: 37th&OStreet | July 10, 2008 11:47 PM | Report abuse
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE SO BLINDED BY HATRED THAT WE CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES. IF YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER COUNTRY YOU WILL FIND THAT THEIR PEOPLE SPEAK MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE. OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THIS GLOBAL ECONOMY. WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE BI LINGUAL. AS WE FORCE THE LATINO CITIZENS TO SPEAK ENGLISH SOON WE WILL BE COMPLAINING THAT THEY ARE GETTING ALL OF THE GLOBAL JOBS. NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO SPEAK SPANISH BUT THERE ARE 7 LANGUAGES IN THE WORLD MARKET. IT IS NOW VERY IMPORTANT THAT SOMEONE SPEAKS CHINESE AND ARABIC. WHEN YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE YOU CAN BE SURPRISED ABOUT WHAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT YOU. MAYBE IF WE SPOKE ANOTHER LANGUAGE WE WOULD HAVE PREVENTED 911 AND ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE PUPPET GOVERNMENTS THAT WE SUPPORT ARE SAYING ABOUT US. WE ARE TRUSTING INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE US. IF WE ARE SMART, WE WILL LOVE ALL AMERICANS. WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT.
Posted by: JANE | July 10, 2008 11:58 AM | Report abuse
Obama's campaign is looking forward while others are looking back in regards to race relations, the Iraq wars and the economy. Some would argue that McCain is to the war what Jackson is to race... http://www.enewsreference.com
Posted by: eNews Reference | July 10, 2008 11:15 AM | Report abuse
Wouldn't it be a lot better if you had an "age" requirement to comment. Are these really "adult" comments? How sad for us all. We seem to have reached the lowest common denominator.
Posted by: oligar0601 | July 10, 2008 11:08 AM | Report abuse
Anything sensible or logical is anathama to the McBush supporters....These narrow minded, selfish autocrats live in the past because they are blind to the future. They mistakenly still believe the color of a person's skin has something to do with intelligence and ability. If trillions of dollars of debt on the backs of their children fail to make them think as opposed to emote, then debate is a waste of time with them.
Posted by: Skyview | July 10, 2008 6:26 AM | Report abuse
Barack is despised by most people who even at one time liked him. The list of reasons not to vote for him goes on. I think he not only flip flopped but got greedy with foregoing public dollars. But FISA and exposing his kids to the media recently took the cake. No wonder Jackson vented his own frustration with this empty suit.
Posted by: Mark S. I | July 10, 2008 2:51 AM | Report abuse
Hot Dang and here I thought that headline
meant Barack Hussein Obama had hired his top WAPO Shill Cris the Drizzle for his
Presidential Campaign. Oh well cheer up
Chris and keep shilling for Obama and you
may make the Obama White House Staff yet
you pathetic loser and disgrace to real
journalism.
Posted by: Claudine 1000 | July 10, 2008 2:25 AM | Report abuse
Fact is folks Obama has his base LOCKED IN!!
Hell or high water we'll support him.
Now he goes after the Religious Nut Vote, the pro gun vote, the independent vote....
Win win and he takes a majority Dem congress along with him.
The Right Wing plague is almost over, the people have had enough!
Posted by: Rubiconski | July 10, 2008 1:31 AM | Report abuse
chris c is a side story
as usual
Posted by: Anonymous | July 9, 2008 10:57 PM | Report abuse
talk about Original Sin ???
Let's talk about Original Lie.
The one about being "different" and something to "believe" in.
I hope America and the smelly to the nines baby wipe media wake up SOON.
Like - before some 3am incompetence catastrophe
A stadium
For his EXTREME EGO
there's an easy story for you Chris
get right on that
instead of haning from Obama's teat
Posted by: Anonymous | July 9, 2008 10:56 PM | Report abuse
We're going to win this thing, Dems. Kudos to Obama to put smart people to work to spend his money smartly.
Posted by: marylandlegal | July 9, 2008 10:40 PM | Report abuse
this thread seams like the ramdom complaint, crazy thread. Let's talk about the article. Erik will make a fine addition to a quality team...you need experts to help you do anything. Fix a car, fix the economy, run a race, run a campaign...
Posted by: jonesy | July 9, 2008 10:16 PM | Report abuse
What -- nothing about the FISA bill, and how Obama -- now that he smells the presidency -- sold out everything he supposedly stands for so that he too can spy on innocent people?
You guys are nothing but shills.
Posted by: info | July 9, 2008 10:10 PM | Report abuse
It's very sad that people resort to name-calling, and spreading mistruths about Senator Obama. In reality, Senator Obama is an accomplished, Christian man - and as a candidate, he's built an impressive organization in his campaign. His campaign staff are working in all 50 states because Obama really values each state - and he wants to involve as many people as possible. It's great to hear that he's bringing in a new adviser - since he can benefit from Smith's work. If you'd like to get involved - you can go to http://www.BarackObama.com and learn about volunteering oportunities in your local state. You can help by registering voters, and donating dollars to his campaign. We must work to help Senator Obama because we can't let McCain keep us in Iraq for another 100 years. It's time for change. Please get involved and make your voice hear. Let's make a difference in 2008!
Posted by: Allen | July 9, 2008 10:01 PM | Report abuse
to the moron who is upset Obama said he was
embarrassed that we don't know more than one language if that
not learning other languages hurts you business wise.
I travel all over the world and not knowing Spanish, or Chinese or French hurts
how stupid does America needs to be
no don't work hard, get into a good college and graduate school because that will make you an elitist
he is right but not going far enough
we should speak three languages for the next generation
Chinese should be one of them
they should know a physical trade
and they should know a computer language
when i was growing up my mother told me that high school was to prepare me for the rest of my life.
It didn't but I did get something out of it
dealing with people who are like me.
I cannot understand those whom enjoy being stupid
Americans are stupid
we can't compete with this attitude that we
don't need to educate yourself and if you do you are an elitist
how stupid is that
you wonder why AT&T complains why they can't find 5000 qualified people to do simple CSR work
where 50% of the kids in the cities aren't graduating and 25% in the suburbs
we revel in being normal or average or middle income
let me explain something to you morons who think this will still fly
normal or average is = to mediocre
are you ok with that
what are you people thinking
we will continue to lose jobs and now high paying jobs because why should I employ an airhead here
when my assistant in Hong Kong speaks three
languages and a four year degree getting paid a third or fourth of what you people are paid here.
ya learn Spanish
it my save your job or get a raise or a promotion
look at the western Hemisphere where can an
American of non-latin decent can flourish beyond your friends and co-workers if you do
God forbid that you learn
i am sure some idiot will find something in the bible to back it up
Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Ben Franklin all spoke more than one language
Do you think the French would have helped us as much as they did if we didn't have people like Franklin and Jefferson to communicate with them.
Posted by: Michael Templer | July 9, 2008 9:15 PM | Report abuse
I think that it is important for Obama to add to his staff. He will need more people to come up with positions he can change his mind on. The Senator can't be expected to think up positions to change all by himself. The only risk Obama runs is that the election is still quite a way off and he may run out of positions to change before then.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 9, 2008 9:03 PM | Report abuse
Will Barry Hussein continue to throw his "sisters and brothers" under the bus in order to appeal to middle America? He has already completed the deed with one billion Muslims...
Posted by: Nadeem Zakaria | July 9, 2008 8:58 PM | Report abuse
A new adviser does that mean he is about to change positions on something again.
Posted by: 1ahead | July 9, 2008 8:50 PM | Report abuse
well, it seems that those PUMA/DINOs just have nothing better to do than troll every news story; go straight to the comment section without reading the article; and, inserting their boilerplate "anger," say how they are going to use their vote to kneecap the candidate who supports their issues because hillary is a victim (again) of some vast conspiracy or other, etc., etc.
look, have fun, enjoy yourselves, but nobody really reads what you say anymore 'cause its all just the same old thing.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 9, 2008 8:07 PM | Report abuse
OOOOOBAMA IS SSSOOOOOO NOT DIFFERENT !!
HE IS CHANGE YOU CAN BARELY KEEP TRACK OF
MUCH LESS "BELIEVE" IN
TODAY HE SAID HE IS EMBARRASSED THAT AMERICANS GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND CAN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGES
HEH ???
WE EMBARRASS HIM?
I THINK IT IS OBAMA WHO EMBARRASSES US
NOT DIFFERENT - THAT WAS A LIE
NO CHANGE - ONLY HIS EXCUSES AND STORIES
CAN WORLD LEADERS "BELIEVE" ANYTHING HE SAYS IF AMERICANS CAN'T ?
NOPE
USED HIS DAUGHTERS FOR A TV PHOTO OP
REAL SLICK
THEN SAID OOPS MISTAKE
IT WAS TOTALLY PLANNED AS A MEDIA EVENT
HE REALLY REALLY REALLY THINKS WE'RE STUPID
WAKE UP OBAMABOTS
BEFORE 3AM
Posted by: Anonymous | July 9, 2008 7:46 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.













The Jesse Jackson story is a COMPLETE PLOY PREPLANNED AND CREATED AT OBAMA HEADQUARTERS.
It is pathetic.
The purpose of this pathetic exercise is to attempt to convince people that Jesse Jackson is a radical black leader and somehow Obama is a moderate black person and therefor OK, when actually that is a complete lie.
If anything, Jesse Jackson is the more moderate of the two by far.
This is unbelievable. Throw Jesse Jackson under the bus why don't you. Obama is a pathetic little liar who will do anything and say anything to lie to people and deceive them into voting for him.
Is this a post-racial candidate?
What bothers me about Obama is not that he is black but that he reminds me of Bill Clinton. Some guy skating by, lying his way through women, wine and politics. Seriously folks, if Obama came to you for a job interview, wouldn't you cut it short and thank him for his time? Obama is a worthless pathetic lying flip-flopping Empty Suit Slimy Fish. It is amazing how bad the people coming out of affirmative actions programs are - however if one draws conclusions from Obama, affirmative action is a complete failure - having produced the weakest set of people since the 1962 Mets. Obama and his team are so bad, it is difficult to find a proper analogy.
.