Over the next couple of weeks, the FlashReport will be profiling a few campaign MVP’s for our readers…
When looking at all of the campaign operatives on the GOP side of the isle this cycle, a small group of notables rose to the surface, the first of which we are happy to recognize as our pick for Team Arnold MVP — and the winner is… Katie Levinson, the Communications Director for Californians for Schwarzenegger! Congratulations, Katie!
You can actually probably tell the day that Katie Levinson started with her important and central position with the Governor’s re-election campaign — that would be the day that someone turned "on" the power switch, and the Schwarzenegger Public Relations Machine has been operating at full speed ever since. Levinson is rather famously an import into the California political scene as a part of "Team Schmidt" — the young and energetic group of folks that worked with Schwarzenegger Campaign Manager Steve Schmidt on President Bush’s 2004 re-election efforts, whom he brought with him when he came to California.
"Katie is one of the best in the business. She, along with Matt David and the others on our communications team have done and continue to do an amazing job," said Steve Schmidt when asked to comment on Levinson’s receiving our MVP honors.
But Levinson (pictured above to the right along with Deputy Communications Director Matt David) has not been content to hang out in the shadow of Steve Schmidt — she has quickly established her "Golden State" credentials as a top-notch communications specialist, and capable manager of a team of around twenty or so political operatives. The Communications shop at Californians for Schwarzenegger is practically a 24/7 operation — and rumor has it that you can find Katie "on deck" almost all of that time — where she is directing, spinning, schmoozing, dousing, inciting, creating and updating nearly all of the time. I’m sure that Katie would much prefer to be on the road more, seeing the beautiful sights of this amazing state, but as she likes to say, "They don’t let me out much."
A look at Levinson’s Communications Team has to start with a nod of respect to Deputy Communications Director Matt David. David, who is responsible for ‘all things Phil Angelides’ has been relentless in overseeing the very successful bracketing operation that has left Angelides defined as a hopeless, tax increasing, awkward liberal politican.
Levinson’s other key team leaders include Press Secretary Julie Soderlund, Regional Press Secretary Amanda Fulkerson, "War Room" Manager Robert Terra, the talk radio and surrogate program gurus — Lisa Page and Jeff Macedo respectively. Also there is Jeffrey Barker, the "King of Rapid Response" and Nicolle Winn, the ace television booker. Oh, and we certainly cannot forget Colleen Ripchick, who’s job really is to keep Katie, and everyone around Katie, sane throughout the long, extremely busy days and nights.
Levinson is well liked and well respected by those who whom she works, and by those media folks on "the outside" — which is always a challenge. Speaking for myself, I know that sometimes this website publisher can be high maintenance, and Katie’s always right on top of things, all while maintaining her top two priorities (from my perspective) — doing anything she can to re-elect the Governor, and also enjoying her work. Katie has a great sense of humor — important in a high-stress business like politics!
It’s pretty impressive to be responsible for all aspects of strategic communications for an operation as large as Schwarzenegger’s at just 31 years of age. Yet even at this relatively young age, Levinson has already established her strong credentials as a political communications expert. After President Bush’s successful re-election, Levinson left her post of Director of Broadcast Media at the Republican National Committee to take an appointment from the President as Director of Television at the White House, a senior member W’s communications team.
Levinson started her career in politics working for her hometown Congressman, Republican Chris Shays of Connecticut. She rose through the ranks of his staff to become his Communications Director. She went on from this job to work for a time at MSNBC in New York as a producer, and also at the private sector public affairs firm Hill and Knowlton.
Levinson hails originally from New Canaan, Connecticut and has her Bachelors Degree from Skidmore College in New York and a Masters Degree with honors in Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics.
At t-minus 12 days, things are looking pretty good for the Governor right now. There is no doubt that when the Governor wins a second term, and he reflects on who the key players were that helped him to achieve this amazing goal, that Katie Levinson will be on his mind. As well she should be.
It’s not clear what the next professional step will be for Levinson — there will be a lot of opportunities for her. But you can be sure about one thing — she will wake up the day after the election, and only then realize that she’d best start thinking about it. Until then, for Katie, it will be all Arnold, all of the time.
On a closing note, ironically it is likely that Levinson’s own operation will be the first to disseminate this blog post to the Arnold Campaign Team — as Robert Terra and the "campaign war room" staff pull items like this out of the blogosphere and share it via e-mail to the large re-election team the Governor has assembled.
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