Potomac Flacks: '08 Press Shop Staff Listings: Obama

April 10, 2007

'08 Press Shop Staff Listings: Obama

Continuing our series of press shop staff listings for the Presidential campaigns, today we'll feature Barack Obama. If we have made any mistakes in titles, omissions, etc - please email me (matt.mackowiak@gmail.com).

We unveiled the Republican campaigns last week and will unveil the Democrats this week.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
Based in Chicago, IL

Robert Gibbs - Communications Director
Joined Obama shortly after he won the March 16, 2004 Senate primary, former Press Secretary for Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) Presidential campaign for over ten months, resigned Nov. '03, Press Secretary for the DSCC '01-'02, Communications Director for Debbie Stabenow's Senate campaign '99-'00, Press Secretary to Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA) '99, Communications Director for Sen. Fritz Hollings' (D-SC) '98 re-election campaign.
David Axelrod - Media Strategist
Principal in the Chicago-based campaign media firm AKP Message & Media, has worked on over 150 campaigns at the local, state, and national levels, handled message and media for Obama's 2004 primary campaign, served as media consultant on former Sen. John Edwards' (D-NC) 2004 presidential campaign, managed Paul Simon's 1984 Senate race where he upset Sen. Charles Percy (R-IL), spent eight years as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering national, state and local politics.
Bill Burton - National Press Secretary
Former Communications Director at the DCCC for the '06 cycle, staffer for Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), Regional Communications Director on Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) Presidential campaign, Press Secretary for Rep. Dick Gehardt's '04 Iowa caucus campaign, Press Secretary to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).
Dan Pfeiffer - Traveling Press Secretary
Former Communications Director for Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-IA) All America PAC, former Press Secretary to Sen. Bayh, Deputy Campaign Manager for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's (D-SD) unsuccessful re-election campaign in '04, staffer on Sen. Tim Johnson's (D-SD) successful '02 re-election campaign, Communications Director at the Democratic Governors Association.
Tommy Vietor - Iowa Press Secretary
Formerly Press Secretary in Senator Obama's official Senate office, worked on former Sen. John Edwards' (D-NC) '04 Presidential campaign, was a press aide on Obama's '04 Senate campaign.
Gannett Tseggai - Iowa Deputy Press Secretary
Formerly Deputy Press Secretary for Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), worked on Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) '04 Presidential campaign in Missouri and Ohio.
Jen Psaki - Deputy Press Secretary
Former Spokeswoman at the DCCC in the '06 cycle, Communications Director for Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), in fall '04 worked on Sen. John Kerry's Presidential campaign handling press for the Kerry / Heinz children, Deputy Communications Director on Sen. Kerry's '03-'04 Iowa caucus campaign, Field Organizer for the Iowa Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign in '02. Presidential campaign in Missouri and Ohio.

(Some background from "Democracy in Action")

Posted by Matt Mackowiak on April 10, 2007 in 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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Matt Mackowiak is a Washington, D.C. and Austin,TX-based Republican strategist and communications consultant and President of Potomac Strategy Group, LLC. In his career he has managed a winning Congressional campaign and worked in the U.S. Senate, at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, at a leading international PR firm, on a presidential campaign in Iowa and in White House presidential advance. Follow him on Twitter - @MattMackowiak

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Laura Gross is currently president of Scott Circle Communications. She has served as deputy director of communications at the DNC, was Gov. Howard Dean's Communications Director and she worked in the press office at USAID during the Clinton administration. Her experience also includes time in the PR department of National Public Radio and she was part of Vice President Gore's advance team when he was in The White House.
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Blain K. Rethmeier - Contributor
Blain K. Rethmeier is currently the Senior Vice President for Public Affairs for the American Insurance Association (AIA). Rethmeier joined AIA from the White House where he served as Special Assistant to the President for Communications and directed communications for the National Economic Council and Homeland Security Council. Prior to joining the White House, Rethmeier served as Press Secretary for the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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