lis smith campaign manager

Your Bengals fandom and their Super Bowl run is a part of the book. Whats that like? Smith has been studying the effort, reaching out to reporters who were there, and has been in regular contact with John Weaver, who helped engineer it. She became obsessed with the idea of working for him, then became further obsessed when she actually met him, and developed the notion that once people got to meet him they would start to like him. This is what day one looks like. Letting Pete be Pete. There may be nobody more central to Mayor Petes media successbesides the candidate himself, and arguably his social-media-savvy husband, Chasten Buttigiegthan Smith, who serves as a communications adviser and all-around aide. And if people like it they like it, and if they dont they were probably never going to vote for you anyway.. I have a really close-knit group of friends who have nothing to do with politics. I am here to get you clips. For example, you write in your book about going to a pop-up bar in South Bend with Pete and his best friend and campaign manager, Mike Schmuhl. I figured he was special and it couldnt hurt if everybody knows who he is.. Eliot Spitzer and Lis Smith Break Up - TOTPI And those are the people that we should be elevating. Pete Buttigieg is the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Lis has absolutely no fear, said Jeff Smith, a former Missouri lawmaker who dated Smith for four years and considers her one of his closest friends. Smith: Democrats love to bitch that we dont have a bench. Andrew Cuomo and former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. What I realized from my time working in politics is how much mystery there still is around this industry. Lis Smith Retweeted. Smith went to Dartmouth. As voters look for someone who can beat Trump, the fact that the press corps appears to vouch for this curious character, a young liberal red-state mayor, means that voters can give him a second look too. Smith: One of the things Ive learned over my time in politics is that youve got to let your candidates be themselves. It is my passion. My first impression was that he was a bit goofy and unserious, and never, never, ever in my wildest dreams did I think I would be sitting across the table from him 10 years later, interviewing to work for him as he was about to be the incoming mayor of New York. Lis Smith on Pete Buttigieg's campaign bus during a four day tour of Iowa, September 23, 2019. Liz Truss is contesting a 12,000 bill for costs incurred relating to her use of the grace-and-favour Chevening estate she had access to as foreign secretary, the Mail on Sunday reported. 36. Wren: Youve worked in a lot of red states South Dakota, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. James Devaney/Getty Images. The two of us talked this week about Buttigiegs political future, whether Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could jump into politics, and the ingredients of a good political candidate. Dont miss it! After the fundraiser, Buttigieg is going to rush off to 30 Rock to do Maddow, then in the morning New Day on CNN, and then fly to Iowa, then do Morning Joe when hes back. #cjc2024. Like we saw with Hillary Clinton, women are sometimes held to a different standard. They just get swallowed up by the next news cycle, and never reach the voters who matter anyway. She has worked on more than 20 Democratic campaigns, according to her Twitter bio and is a graduate. Keep in mind she was 22 at the time, Smith said. Buttigieg reignited Smiths love for politics, she says, after a really difficult 2015 and 2016 due to her breakup with former New York Gov. The makeup of a candidate's staff can signal the strength of their support from influential party activists and whether they are aligning with a particular faction or group within the party. He has a clear social consciousness to him that you dont see in a lot of professional athletes. Based on that experience, how should Democrats make gains in those kinds of states in 2022? This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Jeff Smith, her former boyfriend, recalls one time when he was running for office, his campaign managers phone rang. He stood out obviously because of his height, but he was one of those guys that was almost overly enthusiastic about knocking on doors and making phone calls, to the point that everyone else around the office sort of rolled their eyes. You couldnt have pulled off that strategy with a Bill de Blasio. "He has been dismissed and discounted at every turn, and still overperformed expectations. David Freedlander writes about politics and culture. A photo and audio tour of the hosts driving the conversation. Smith marched him to the front of where the national and New York press were gathered, telling him, Are you ready for your first gaggle? He stayed until the matter was exhausted. Rather than going after Pete, Harris trained her fire on Biden.. Its sad, but our politics isnt built to deal with people who are reasonable. They know who they are and will not let consultants, pundits, whoever, change them. And although Smith would never say it, it plays on political reporters' narcissism, too. . And it was the first time Id worked in politics that Id ever felt that way. If you had any balls you would have said what I told you to say.. During the campaign, Forbes considered her one of "the essential people to follow on Twitter," saying:[5], The New York Times noted that Smith's rapid response tweets "were a big reason that the campaign was able to define Mitt Romney before he could define himself."[4]. Political Hotshot Lis Smith Talks Women in Politics, Democrats' Future and the Secret to Buttigieg's Success. She has advised New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and Montana Governor Steve Bullock, people who on paper at least are far more likely top-tier presidential contenders, and she served as a top aide for a number of Senate and gubernatorial races. Usually, it was all good-natured. Eliot Spitzer]. How do you think the decline of local news has affected campaigns? if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; Communications: Alison Graves Carley Allensworth Abigail Campbell Sarah Groat Erica Shumaker Caitlin Vanden Boom [The vice presidency] is probably the toughest, most thankless job in Washington D.C. Biden warns of rights under threat from Trump and 'MAGA extremists' in Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. She doesnt give a fuck. Its a role that clearly lends itself to his skill set. Its a local-politics mentality to find the people that are going to be telling this story, and if nothing else, making sure they have a real understanding of who you are. It will codify Roe v. Wade. But there's no doubt that there is no substitute for being in a scrum, and for having a traveling press corps with you every day, lobbing questions at you. Insider caught up with Smith on Thursday, and learned about her time with de Blasio and what she looks for in undiscovered star candidates. When Smith opens her laptop, there are saved tabs about Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, a YouTube video of a facial massage routine, kale recipes, a Time Out City Guide to Dubai and a 2012 Huffington Post article about how the Obama and Romney campaigns used Twitter. And it drives me crazy because you see the Republican Party elevating governors left and right, like Ron DeSantis or Kristi Noem. But another thing is that Im not someone whos just worked in New York. She advised a couple of governors still left in office, and started taking on more nonprofit clients. Lis Smith was just a college student when she worked on her first political campaign. Lis Smith is a Democratic campaign communications specialist and co-founder of 50 State Communications in New York. I think hes a really good person. Ballotpedia features 408,464 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. It pisses me off, she adds, When candidates think they are too good for some of these outlets, or that it cheapens them to do TMZ or do a more entertainment-focused thing. But I appreciate his courage in being willing to speak out about it. Yeah. Buttigieg's Ex-Campaign Manager Is Showing Democrats How to - Insider Know of any staff we missed? This is an election where the women voters are going to be really important. Mistakes Ive made in my professional life. Lis Smith - Fellow - Georgetown University's Institute of - LinkedIn God, you fucked that up. You recently signed on with Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. Thats a pretty ballsy thing to do. "[1], Presidential candidates will typically have a national staff, which is overseen by a campaign manager and assisted by political consultants, senior advisors, professional polling firms, and key stakeholders such as interest group leaders and major financial supporters. Her debut, "I Am Nasrine" was nominated for a BAFTA in 2013. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider I was a field organizer for him in Keene, New Hampshire, and a bus of New Yorkers came up and the "New York for Edwards" delegation was led by none other than then-City Councilman Bill de Blasio. In 2018, she served as the political press coordinator for Pete Buttigieg's campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. You write: Here we go said Larry Grisolano, Petes media consultant, stating the obvious. Regular voters and the media were primed for it.. I think now more than ever, people need to understand how the media works. The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms LisSmithMartinO'Malley. [2] Wren: One of your legacies is the coaching tree, to use an apt football metaphor, that you left behind on the Pete campaign. Smith starts texting me, wanting to know if Id seen the celebrities in the audience, including George Takei, Kal Penn and Kate McKinnon. There is only so much you can do to bare your soul over a beer, but hopefully people get to know you on some level and more than they would one gaggle at a time. Maybe Im done. ), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo. Its just a personal part of my book. She's taken gambles on underdogs like Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, advised establishment stalwarts such as former Virginia Gov. Martin OMalley, who shed worked for, performing poorly in the Iowa caucuses. Not long after that, at the presidential primary debate in Miami on June 27, you take us inside the greenroom backstage as you watched Pete get asked about this incredibly fraught moment. She knew Axelrod from 2012, when she worked as director of rapid response for President Barack Obamas reelection effort. Smith: In my experience, the best working relationships between candidates and their top staff often depend on a sort of yin-yang dynamic. And its really heartening because you realize the future of the Democratic Party is really bright, and that all we need to do is help lift these people up. Pete was completely different. Smith is a fierce New York City-based Democratic operative who helped engineer the plan to get Buttigieg in front of not just national political reporters, but anybody with a camera or microphone. External Relations: Moira Delaney Hannah Nelson Caroline Presnell The great media disruption comes for the Des Moines Register. Wren: What do you look for in a candidate? Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. You know what people are going to react to, and you know that the tabloids, just like the political press, oftentimes just wants a little scalp and then they will move on., How the Intercept Is Fueling the Democratic Civil WarBy Steven Perlberg. But it is kind of fascinating to watch., Smith met Buttigieg on the recommendation of Axelrod and former Maryland Governor Martin OMalley. This page contains a select list of Pete Buttigieg's national campaign staff and primary state directors. Now after advising Pete Buttigieg, she's published a must-read memoir, 'Any Given Tuesday: A Political. "Joe Biden has had one of the most successful. We needed to be the antidote to him. [4], According to the Washington Post, Lis Smith began working with Martin O'Malley in 2011 during "the first part of his tenure as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. ELIOT AND DeBABE blared the cover of the New York Post, which ran several photos of the pair on its inside pages and in a column from the acid-tongued Andrea Peyser which called Smith not just any ordinary bimbo and called her an ambitious, youngish cookie who presumably does not charge Eliot for any services rendered., Eliot Spitzer and Lis Smith at a Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in 2014. Whitney Whitis. [2] Smith previously worked on campaigns for former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D. She ran it like he was trying to be president, getting him in front of as many microphones as she could. The one thing you saw on our campaign in 2020 is that everywhere we went, he was introduced by young leaders, young mayors. In 2012, Smith served as President Barack Obama's director of rapid response, a similar role she'll play with Cuomo and the state Democratic Party's coordinated campaign this year. Click here. Smith: Youve got to meet voters where they are. [4], In 2012, Smith was the rapid response director for Barack Obama's (D) presidential campaign. I think its just shaped up to be a perfect role for him. I dont live and breathe politics every day. And its going to be really important to have a woman sort of leading the charge on these issues, who is able to really empathize with the despair a lot of women are feeling. It was a long shot. Smiths Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story, out July 19, is an irreverent, intimate and honest look behind the curtain of modern political image-making including her own. . Hes someone who is involved fighting childhood hunger. Youve got this hard-nosed New York-style political operative and this friendly Hoosier mayor, he said. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. That maybe once he double-dipped his fry at Barnabys? Im joking. After the fundraiser, Smith and Buttigieg climb into an SUV and head to 30 Rock. But as long as its just like that one percent that you need to have the confidence that you can go out and rally thousands of people, and that its just that 1 percent and not 70 percent, then its all good. Visit Presidential election key staffers, 2020, to see our coverage of staff on other campaigns. I first met Bill de Blasio in December of 2003, when I was a field organizer for the Edwards campaign during a term off from Dartmouth College. ), President Barack Obama (D) and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D). Axelrod told Buttigieg about Smith, and OMalley told Smith about this young mayor from South Bend. Now that they have achieved liftoff, as it were, Smith is preparing for the next part of the campaign. Lis Smith (born October 15, 1982) is an American political strategist affiliated with the Democratic Party. Other candidates, they dont need to do it. They lead with emotion. It wasnt really until 2012 when I worked for Barack Obama that I did find a really strong female mentor in Stephanie Cutter and I learned so much about my job, so much about politics, so much about how to effectively communicate from Stephanie Cutter. The national security site has found fresh energy as a savvy, progressive attack dog in national politics. I want political people to read this book, because I think its fun. But they did teach me the importance of always making sure that candidates are reflecting the values of their voters. The New York tabs may have sharpened her game, but people who've known her for years say Smith came ready for the fight. Bill de Blasio, too. Its really fun. The table below shows the candidate's 2020 early primary state directors and state communications directors. He doesnt yell and scream, take the most extreme positions on issues, or tweet incendiary things. It was younger reporters, super-hungry reporters that really know how to use Twitter, people who can then go to a cocktail party and tell their friends they had a beer with this guy Pete Buttigieg three hours from now. Hes going to sound so elitist. Or: Why does he have to answer every question with a proverb? Voters can smell when candidates are being authentic, and when candidates are not. The attack we had been dreading was coming. It makes it much harder for candidates to get their message out, and it puts a premium on money versus having the best policy prescriptions, or being the bestcampaigner. . Running for politics theres got to be a little element of narcissism or whatever you want to call it in you. President Biden announces he's running for reelection in 2024 : NPR The bad candidates are people who are insecure, who put their finger in the wind, who dont trust their instincts enough and dont have the backbone to do the right things. | Wren: How is Harris doing as a communicator? From the second I met Pete, I knew that there was something special about him. Smith: So with John Edwards, I was a college student. I worked in politics nine years before I ever moved to New York. I worked in states like South Dakota, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia. When they gave me the job I thought, first of all this job exists? @lynnsweet, @kaitlancollins, @Lis_Smith and @PriscillaWT discuss! A lot of people people whose opinion you respect told you that you were nuts when you chose to work for Pete. Smith says thats worth it. I want him on everything, she told me. But there may be no political couple odder than that of Buttigieg and Smith. Wren: I want a window into how you advise candidates amid a crisis. But it has a clear parallel to Smiths relentless scheduling of meetings between Buttigieg and reportersan audaciously direct way to connect with reporters that bought the campaign pretty good press. Wren: Tell me about that five percent credited to you. He was thinking of running for chair of the Democratic National Committee. What do all the good candidates youve worked for have in common, and what do the bad candidates have in common? In my book, I sort of get at this, but we are sort of an odd couple. Smith said McCaskill chose to campaign aggressively in rural counties, which likely contributed to her narrow win over Talent. Shes a Black half-South-Indian woman. So many flacks lose their mind over inconsequential things, and have no sense of, This is good press, this is mediocre press, and this is awful press. That is something you know once you have been through awful press., As a flack, you dont always understand what it feels like to be a principal, what it feels like to be under scrutiny. I consider him a friend . But I love politics because it touches everything in our lives. Smith plotted the rollout of Pete Buttigiegs longshot presidential campaign. The candidate and the campaign manager dutifully board the aircraft, and just when it seems the door is about to close, as they start looking around nervously, in comes Smith, sunglasses and coat still on, laptop and cords dangling from her arms, phone pressed against her ear. Traveling Press Secretary at Lunsford-Stumbo 2007 from February 2007 to . She has a 3-day-old copy of the New York Post in her bag. And they all lack humility. Wren: What is your relationship with Pete like now? I want people to know what its like behind the scenes. Wren: Fair enough. And you just like have this moment, where youre like, Maybe this is it. As someone who was a mayor who was on the ground, who knows how important this stuff is, hes a great messenger to send out there to these smaller media markets everywhere, where he can meet with the mayors, speak to them in their language, help make sure that theyre getting the resources they need. He adds, "The goal is to assemble a team of top talent that can work together effectively to mobilize resources, boost the candidate and his or her message, and ultimately secure the party's nomination. The table below shows a sampling of the candidate's 2020 national campaign staff members, including the campaign manager and some senior advisors, political directors, communication directors, and field directors. We knew the McKinsey stuff would be it, but he was bound by an NDA. Schmuhl, his campaign manager, says a typical scene from the trail for the three of them is arriving 10 or 15 minutes early to the airport gate, and while he and Buttegiegwho hes known since 8th grade in Indianatake a moment to relax for a minute before boarding, Smith will head to the airport bar with her laptop and phone and begins texting and emailing reporters and clapping back to critics on social media. Smith: I think its been great. He looked white as a ghost, didnt say anything, just nodding along. She is the most competitive person I have ever known.. RT @UChiPolitics: How do we avoid rookie mistakes on the campaign trail? | In the car, wed go back and forth on random trivia, and pulling up things on Google. Since a lot of your book is about relationships in politics, could you start out by telling me about the time you met Bill de Blasio when you were volunteering for the John Edwards 2004 presidential campaign in New Hampshire? You deploy the F-bomb like Picasso used drypoint. He was a once-in-a-generation talent, someone who perfectly met the moment. Wren: When you started working with Aftab Pureval did Pete feel like you were two-timing him with another Midwestern mayor of a river city with a funny name? She texts the buzziest bits to her sprawling network of journalistic contacts, who tweet them out. Wren: You write pretty transparently in the book about times youve been fooled by a candidate. Smith a Bengals fan believes quarterback Joe Burrow is a great leader with a clear social conscience, and she wouldnt rule out the possibility of him having a political career. Its why in one day we do CBS Sunday Morning, The View, Teen Vogue and the New Yorker. Over a tumultuous two decades in politics, Lis Smith has seen a thing or two. I dont know if that delegate from Oklahoma is going be reading the Elle.com profile, but a lot of people are, and they should get to know Pete Buttigieg, she says. And you are going to pay me to be really quick and really aggressive and to take on Mitt Romney? But I dont know whats inside him. [5] For a larger list of national campaign staff, visit Democracy in Action. [11] Smith, who worked as a spokesperson for the PAC since her hire in 2013, then transitioned to the role of deputy campaign manager. This is how we stop there from being a day three. The guy didnt have time to say hello before Smith could hear screaming over the line. Why? But is it undermining its own side? Wren: How is the Lis Smith depicted in this book different from the Lis Smith in the popular political imagination? Why do I fucking love John McCain? And I agree with him that you cant get sucked up in the game. They are doing things that are more directly relevant to peoples lives. The Democratic bench isnt going to be found on Meet the Press every Sunday, and its not going to be found on cable news. Smiths mother is a descendent of a signer of the Mayflower Compact, and a cousin of lead Watergate investigator Sam Ervin. Pete's 2020 campaign manager and now chairman of the Indiana Democrats, that my dream project would be to take off .

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