Dominant Strategist for Democrats Ends Consulting Career

[Freddie Stubbs]

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

Published: January 13, 2005


WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 - Bob Shrum, one of the dominant Democratic political strategists and speechwriters of the last three decades, said Wednesday that he was ending his formal consulting career and moving to New York, where he would write and teach at New York University as a senior fellow.

"I wanted to reflect on what I've done, not just keep doing it," Mr. Shrum, 61, said in an interview. "And I wanted to draw lessons from what I'd seen and draw implications for the future."

He leaves Washington with a mixed record, having served as an adviser on 26 winning Senate campaigns, perhaps more than any other consultant, but also eight losing presidential campaigns, which may also stand as a record.

Mr. Shrum was a lead adviser to Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign, where he was sometimes a divisive figure and where he occasionally drew more attention from reporters than his candidate did. He was widely criticized as failing to develop a clean, consistent message.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/politics/13shrum.html?oref=login&pagewanted=all

[LiberalEsto]

1. Good riddance!

Oh, and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!

[aden_nak]

2. So can we stop with the Republican Lite campaigns then?

[LiberalEsto]

3. Soon as we oust the Rethug-lite DLC

[AP]

8. That's way too simple of an analysis. What was wrong with Shrum's

presidential campaigns wasn't where their politics lined up on a one-dimensional spectrum.

The problem was that he didn't have his finger on the pulse of how people really think about presidential candidates and he didn't seem to care much about expressing core democratic values to national audiences.

During the primaries, I remember reading things about how Mark Warner's governor's campaign was run and won and I thought at the time that there is a big difference between winning a state-level race like that one and winning a national campaign. I can't remember all the details. However, I suspect that if one were to look at that race and look at national races, you'd learn a lesson about presidential campaigns which Shrum probably never really grasped very well.

[quiet.american]

4. Glad to see the back of 'im n/t

[IndianaGreen]

5. Loser!

He should go to a monastery and spent the rest of his miserable life reflecting on his role as the Master of Failure!

[itzamirakul]

6. If he couldn't come up with a good clean message...

for Kerry, how the hell is he going to come up with anything to teach?

Pity his students....

[funkybutt]

7. He got paid well for losing

I noticed this early in the campaign and wondered why they had chosen him with such a dismal record in presidential campaigns. At times I even wondered if they chose him SO THAT they would loose.

I really don't understand the decision to hire him. His contract did not hinge at all on success. He was to be paid MILLIONS - win or LOSE

professional election loser

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. So, 26 winning Senate campaigns mean nothing?

:shrug:

[funkybutt]

10. They mean something...

But I still believe he was the wrong choice for this presidential campaign. There were times when I wondered if they were TRYING to lose this one. I'm sure he was very good at the smaller campaigns but obviously not cut out for a Presidential campaign. His record clearly shows that.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. I agree 100% percent, and

I wish he would stick around and help some more Senate campaigns. We need more Democrats in the Senate, and he seems to excel in that area.

[DaedelusNemo]

12. Yes, senate, presidential races different beasts; stick with day job /nt