We’re almost through the the FlashReport Campaign MVP’s for this general election cycle. But they are only getting better! We’ve already seen Arnold’s MVP awarded to Katie Levinson, Tom’s MVP to Stan Devereux, and Tony’s MVP to Paul Hegyi. Now we are going to recognize someone who has been a key player in the campaign of Chuck Poochigian for Attorney General! And MVP is….
Pooch’s MVP – Kevin Spillane, Senior Consultant
The feistiest campaign waged by a down-ballot Republican has to be that of Senator Chuck Poochigian’s bid to be Attorney General. Facing two-term former Governor, 3-time former presidential candidate, former Secretary of State, former Democratic Party Chair and current Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, Poochigian has gained national media notice for the aggressiveness, creativity and hard-hitting nature of his underdog campaign.
The widely respected and likeable Poochigian, known as “Pooch” to his many friends in the Capitol, started off with a 70 point name ID disadvantage against the former Governor. In fact, Jerry Brown has always benefited from high name ID, having begun his first campaign for political office 37 years ago (!) with the built-in advantage of having the same name as his father, the former Governor.
Under the direction of Poochigian Chief Strategist, FR friend and political legend Ken Khachigian, Kevin Spillane has taken it to Brown – hitting the Mayor very hard and often on his many vulnerabilities – Oakland’s exploding homicide rate (more than doubled since Brown was elected), his radical and life-long opposition to capital punishment – even for cop killers and serial murderers, and his ultra-liberal record on public safety issues such as supporting the Prisoners’ Bill of Rights and opposing the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights, to name just a few examples.
With the incredible hard work, dedication and skill of Poochigian Press Secretary Seth Unger and crack researcher Cory Lunde, the Poochigian campaign has impressed many in the press corps (secretly rooting for the always colorful Brown to return to political center stage) with its focused attacks on Brown. Compared to Rocky Delgadillo’s hapless and largely ignored Dem primary bid for AG against Brown, the Poochigian campaign has distinguished itself by succeeding in gaining attention for its candidate and repeatedly putting Jerry Brown on the defensive. Jerry expected a coronation for Attorney General, and instead he got a bloody fight thanks to Team Poochigian.
The Wall Street Journal focused on the Poochigian campaign as a prime example of the use of new technology in politics. The campaign’s use of MySpace, YouTube and creative web ads won it widespread praise and clearly got under Jerry Brown’s skin.
Whatever the outcome tonight for the AG’s race, Kevin Spillane has again proven he’s one of California’s most media-savvy and talented operatives.
Kevin is a veteran of California and national politics, having worked on dozens of campaigns for congressional, statewide, legislative and initiative races. Kevin has worked on the campaigns of at least a half-dozen current or former California Members of Congress.
He first got his start in politics at the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he was hired by Joe Gaylord – destined to become Newt Gingrich’s right-hand man. His immediate supervisors were Rich Galen – now a legend in national conservative politics and now-Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri – and he worked with a number of other operatives who have since emerged as major figures in DC politics.
The son of an Air Force fighter pilot and later airline pilot, Kevin grew up in Hawaii, where he became the first Republican in his family, and West Berlin, where going to school in the shadow of the Berlin Wall he first formed his appreciation for the fragility and preciousness of freedom and passionate belief in the need for a strong and secure national defense.
Congratulations Kevin — Pooch’s Most Valuable Player!
November 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I completely dissagree with your sentiments, if he was that seasoned… that effective, and that perceptive. Brown would have never had a chance after the last spate of blatant partisan ads went out. They were easy to pick apart — Pooch was the better man for the job. secondly and that his fight needed an edge, and your man failed to bring it and let a nutter like Brown in.
They should have ran the radio spots which were great… they should have run a similar one on TV, then should have picked apart the voices advocating Brown’s postitions as extreme in their own which would have been true the show how Brown’s actions while he was actually still in office… that would have been effective.
If you boy was all that bright — Pooch would have won. Well, the only consulation now is that we will see an influx you younger brighter.. more artistic and “dug in” an “know how to bring it” voices for conservatism, and root out the stodgy baked-on nonsense that just lost us a critical swing of balance. The problem is that most RNC doesn’t know how to adapt… and use media to their advantage regardless of media bias. We could have swept but we were asleep at the helm. Oops.. not me.