Our Case Studies

Client: Gary Tanner

Objective: Defeat long-term and politically well-connected incumbent to help Democrats maintain slim majority in Alabama Senate.

Strategy: Increase Tanner's vote share among women and seniors by presenting his positive record on education and health care issues and set up favorable contrast with incumbent's poor record on those issues.

Outcome: Tanner's surprise upset victory comes despite strong Republican showing in the area and his vote provides the margin to assure Democrats maintain Senate control.

Client: Mike Michaud

Objective: Navigate a difficult six-candidate primary, including a well-financed woman, and then overcome a resource disadvantage in the general election in the geographically largest district east of the Mississippi River.

Strategy: Present a complex story on Michaud's background as both a blue collar paper mill worker and an accomplished state legislator who used his position as President of Maine's Senate to champion issues important to working families.

Outcome: After a convincing primary victory, Michaud out polls his Republican opponent 52% to 48%.

Client: Jim Langevin

Objective: Wheelchair bound because of an accidental shooting by a police officer when he was 16, Langevin seeks to move up from Secretary of State to serve in Congress in the 2000 election cycle.

Strategy: Present Langevin as a progressive reformer who is up to the job of Congressman, while avoiding sustained negative exhanges, particularly over tricky social issues in a somewhat conservative, blue-collar, Catholic district.

Outcome: In a late 2000 primary, Langevin nearly wins 50% in a four-way race and out polls the second place finisher by 18 points. He goes on to win 62% against an independent and a Republican in the general election and is re-elected with 72% in 2002.