Key People-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
updated August 20, 2008

OBAMA FOR AMERICA  (building towards the general election edition; see also in the states, DNC and Convention)
-primary organization...including unprecedented field organization in the states
-early organization to Sept. 2007
Headquarters: 233 N. Michigan Ave., 11th Floor, Chicago, Illinois.

Campaign Manager David Plouffe
(reported by Lynn Sweet on Jan. 11, 2007)  Joined AKP Message & Media in winter 2000 and became a named partner in Feb. 2004.  Senior political advisor on Dick Gephardt's 2004 presidential campaign.  Executive director of the DCCC, 1999-2000.  Gephardt's deputy chief of staff, 1997-98.  Managed Bob Torricelli's 1996 campaign for U.S. Senate in New Jersey.  Campaign director at the DSCC in 1995.  Managed Attorney General Charlie Oberly's unsuccessful U.S. Senate race against Sen. Bill Roth in Delaware in 1994.  Managed Rep. John Olver's (D-MA) 1992 re-election campaign.  Served as a state field director for Sen. Tom Harkin's 1992 presidential campaign, after serving as deputy field director in Harkin's 1990 U.S. Senate race.
 
 
Media Strategist David Axelrod
Founded, in 1985, and is a principal of the Chicago-based campaign media firm now known as AKP Message & Media (formerly Axelrod & Associates); has worked on over 150 campaigns at the local, state and national levels.  Did the message and media campaign for Obama's 2004 primary campaign.  Served as media consultant on Sen. John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign.  Managed Paul Simon's 1984 U.S. Senate race where he upset Sen. Charles Percy.  Eight years as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering national, state and local politics. Graduate of the University of Chicago.  Native of New York City.
 

Senior Strategist for Communications and Message Robert Gibbs
(senior traveling communications aide from the start of the campaign; additional strategic responsibilities announced July 15, 2008)  Joined Obama shortly after he won the March 16, 2004 U.S. Senate primary.  Press secretary for John Kerry for President for the first 10-plus months; resigned Nov. 2003.  Press secretary for the DSCC, 2001-02.  Communications director for Debbie Stabenow's U.S. Senate campaign, 1999-2000.  Press secretary to Sen. Max Cleland, 1999.  Communications director for Fritz Hollings' 1998 re-election campaign. Graduate of North Carolina State University.


Senior Advisor
 Valerie Jarrett
Friend to Michelle and Barack Obama and served as finance chair for Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate campaign .  CEO of The Habitat Co., a real estate development and management company; she joined the firm in 1995.  Eight years working for the City of Chicago, first as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development, then as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1991, and as Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development from 1992-95.


Deputy Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand
Overseeing political and field operations; focused on early states through Sept. 2007 (Hildebrand traveled with Obama when he made his first Iowa visit for the Harkin Steak Fry in Sept. 2006)  South Dakota based principal of Hildebrand Tewes Consulting, Inc..  Managed Sen. Tom Daschle's 2004 re-election campaign, a narrow loss to John Thune.  Managed Sen. Tim Johnson's 2002 re-election campaign, a narrow win over Rep. John Thune.  Ran the Women Vote! Program for EMILY's List in 2000.  Ran the Iowa caucuses for Vice President Al Gore in 1999-2000.  Political director at the DSCC in 1997-98.  Midwest Political Director at the DNC in 1996.  Executive director of the Minnesota DFL from mid-August 1995 to mid-March 1996.  Finance director for Minnesota Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III's unsuccessful 1988 Senate campaign.
 


OPERATIONS
Chief Operating Officer Betsy Myers
(announced by KSG on Feb. 13, 2007 but started transitioning to the position on Jan. 19)  Previously at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government as executive director of the Center for Public Leadership and earlier as director of alumni programs and external relations at the Kennedy School.  Senior official in the Clinton Administration.  Served two years with the U.S. Small Business Administration as Associate Deputy Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development.  Launched and directed the first White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach, serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Women's Initiatives, 1995-97.  Director at the Office of Women's Business Ownership at the SBA.  MPA from the Kennedy School, 2000.  Sister of Dee Dee Myers, Clinton's first press secretary.
 
 
Chief of Staff Jim Messina
Comes to the campaign from his position as chief of staff to Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT).  Chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), 2003-05.  Campaign manager on Baucus' 2002 campaign.  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), 1999-2001.  Campaign manager on Baucus' 1996 campaign.  Chief of staff tostate Sen. Mike Halligan, 1995.  Worked on Daniel Kemmis' campaign for mayor of Missoula in 1993.  B.A. from the University of Montana, 1993.  Grew up in Boise, ID.
 
 
Chief Financial Officer Marianne Markowitz

 
 

POLITICAL
Political Director
 Patrick Gaspard
(announced June 18, 2008)  Prior to joining the campaign, Gaspard was executive vice president of politics and legislation for Local 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.  In 2006 he served as acting political director for SEIU international.  National field director for America Coming Together, 2004.  1199 SEIU deputy director.  Chief of staff to New York City Council member Margarita Lopez.

Constituency Director
 Brian Bond
Executive director of the DNC's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council.  Executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund from 1997 to 2003.  DNC director of LGBT outreach in 1996.  Native of Missouri.

 
Latino Vote Director
 Cuauhtemoc "Temo" Figueroa
Previously national field director (from Feb. 2007)  As assistant political director at AFSCME, Figueroa oversaw the union's independent expenditure program during the 2006 elections.  Administrator of AFSCME Council 18, New Mexico.  Served on the DNC's Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling. 

Deputy Director for the Latino Vote Program
 Stephanie Valencia
Taking leave from her position as press secretary to U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (CO).  Prior to that she worked in the Office of the Democratic Caucus Vice Chair doing press and Hispanic outreach.  Before that she was the press secretary for U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA).
 
Deputy Director for the Latino Vote Program
 Carlos Odio
Odio was active in NYC4Obama and Brooklyn for Barack, served as deputy Latino outreach coordinator during the Iowa caucuses and also worked on the campaign in Colorado.  Other experience includes communications manager at AlleyCorp; communications consultant at Leadership Initiatives; and director of marketing and public relations at GALA Hispanic Theatre.

African American Vote Director
 Rick Wade
(announced as a senior advisor on May 24, 2007)  Vice president of business development for Palmetto GBA, a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina.  Democratic nominee for Secretary of State in 2002, obtaining about 44 percent of the vote.  Senior associate at Fowler Communications.  State director of the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Services (announced by Gov. Hodges in Jan. 1999, served through May 2002).  Other experience includes senior manager at Hoffmann-La Roche pharmaceutical company in New Jersey, analyst for the S.C. House Ways & Means Committee, executive assistant to the president of University of South Carolina and chief of staff for former Lt. Gov. Nick Theodore.  MPA from the Kennedy School of Government, 1997.  B.S. from the University of South Carolina.  Native of Lancaster, SC.
 

Jewish Vote Director/Advisor on Mideast Policy
 Eric Lynn
(July 2007)  Associate at Patton Boggs.  Senior legislative assistant to then Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-FL).

Senior Policy Advisor/Jewish Outreach Coordinator
 Daniel Shapiro
(official staff role announced Aug. 19, 2008; started advising the campaign in 2007 on Middle East policy and Jewish community issues)  Vice president at Timmons and Company.  Legislative director, then deputy chief of staff to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), 2001-07.  Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Security Council, 1999-2001.  Aide to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), 1995-99.  Aide to former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Lee Hamilton (D-IN).  Master's degree in Middle Eastern politics from Harvard University, 1993.  Undergraduate degree from Brandeis University, 1991.  Born and raised in Champaign, Illinois.


Asian American and Pacific Islander Vote Director
 Charmaine Manansala
State director for the New Mexico Blue Team.  Strategist for Guam delegate Robert Underwood, 2005-06.  Policy adviser for Speaker Nancy Pelosi from 2003-05.  Filipina.

Deputy AAPI Vote Director
 Betsy Kim
Moved over to the campaign from the DNC American Majority Project (started in 2005).  Counselor to the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration during the Clinton administration (political appointee).  Practiced bankruptcy law at firms in Washington, DC and Phoenix, AZ, 1993-96.  J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law, and B.A. from Pomona College.  Originally from Honolulu, HI.

First Americans Vote Director
 Wizipan Garriott
(Native American outreach coordinator since Sept. 2007)  Sicangu Lakota (Rosebud Sioux).  Has incorporated the He Sapa Leadership Academy, a Native American preparatory school.  Law degree from University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in Tucson, 2008.  Graduate of Yale University with a degree in American studies, 2003.


LGBT Vote Director
 David Noble
Director of public policy and government affairs at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.  Executive director of Stonewall Democrats in the 2004 cycle.  Native of Rhode Island.


Disablity Vote Director
 Kareem Dale
(effective July 14, 2008; announced July 21; earlier served as a volunteer on the Disability Policy and the Arts Policy Committees for the campaign)  Founder and chief executive officer of The Dale Law Group (DLG) in Chicago.  Bachelor's degree in advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; law degree and MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1999.  Native Chicagoan.  Partially blind.


Women for Obama
National Women's Field Director
 Becky Carroll
(started Oct. 2007)  Came to the campaign from position as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Blagojevich; started working for Blagojevich in early 2003.  Worked on Rahm Emanuel's successful campaign for Congress in 2002.  Spokesperson for the 2000 Illinois Democratic Coordinated campaign.  Spokesperson for Chicago Department of Planning and Development.  Press secretary on Chicago lawyer John Schmidt's 1998 gubernatorial primary campaign.  Public relations director for the Chicago Department of Housing.  Assistant communications director of the Mayor Daley's 1995 re-election campaign.  Undergraduate degree in political science and communications from Loyola University Chicago, 1994.  Native of Chicago.
Chair, Women for Obama - Betsy Myers, Obama for America COO
Women's Policy Advisor - Judy Gold, Partner at Perkins, Coie; former chair, Illinois Commission on the Status of Women.

Senior Advisor
 Dana Singiser
(announced July 11, 2008)  Director of Women’s Outreach for the Hillary Clinton for President.  Staff director of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee chaired by Sen. Clinton, started in 2004.  Deputy political director for Gov. Howard Dean’s campaign.  Served in the Clinton White House and at the Department of Commerce.  Florida deputy state director in 1996; field staffer on Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign in Vermont. [PDF]

 
Director of Religious Affairs Joshua DuBois
Legislative correspondent in Obama's Senate office from 2005-07.  MPA from Princeton, 2005.

 
Youth Vote Director Hans Reimer
Reimer was previously political and issues director for Rock the Vote; he joined Rock the Vote in 2003.  A resident of Silver Spring, MD, he ran for Montgomery County Council in 2006.  Senior policy analyst directing the Social Security Information Project at the Institute for America's Future, 2001-03.  Director of the 2030 Center, a public policy organization for young adults focused on economic issues and particularly Social Security, 1996-2001.  Graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1995.  Born and raised in Oakland, CA.


On September 16, 2007 the campaign announced its National Advisory Outreach Team ("work with Senator Obama and his campaign team to ensure that the campaign platform is inclusive of the ideas of all groups.")

Preeta Bansal, AAPI Outreach
Assemblywoman Karen Bass, African American Outreach
Rep. Gwen Moore, African American Outreach
Jim Zogby, Arab American Outreach
Reverend Willie Barrow, Faith Outreach
Reverend Joseph Lowery, Faith Outreach
Rep. Robert Wexler, Jewish Outreach
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Latino Outreach
Majority Leader Gloria Romero, Latino Outreach
Stampp Corbin, LGBT Outreach
Tobias Wolff, LGBT Outreach
Wizipan Garriott, Native American Outreach
General Scott Gration, Veteran Outreach
John Hurley, Veteran Outreach
          On Nov. 12, 2007 the campaign announced its National Veterans Advisory Committee.
        On Nov. 15, 2007 the campaign announced endorsements of technology leaders.
        On Dec. 4, 2007 the campaign announced its African American Religious Leadership Committee.
also note: Mazen Asbahi, a Chicago lawyer, served v. briefly as Arab-American and Muslim-American coordinator, a volunteer position, July 26-Aug. 4, 2008


 
National Director of Delegate Operations Jeff Berman
Berman fulfilled a similar role on both of Dick Gephardt's presidential campaigns.
 
 

FIELD
National Field Director
 Jon Carson
Previously Voter Contact Director (reported by Lynn Sweet.  "Obama shakes up his campaign staff."  Chicago Sun-Times.  October 11, 2007)  Initially Illinois State Director (reported by Lynn Sweet.  "Obama's Illinois operation. Campaign to launch "'Camp Obama'"  Chicago Sun-Times.  May 3, 2007)  Managed Tammy Duckworth's 2006 general election campaign in Illinois' 6th CD.  Served in the Peace Corps.  Worked for South Carolina Democrats in the 2002 cycle, helping to target African-American voters.  Director of the Wisconsin Senate Democratic Caucus from Feb. to Aug. 2001.  A regional field organizer on Al Gore's 2000 Iowa caucus campaign.  Worked on Russ Feingold's 1998 U.S. Senate campaign.  Graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a degree in civil engineering.  From La Crosse, WI.

Battleground States Director
 Jennifer O'Malley Dillon
(started April 2008)  Deputy campaign manager on John Edwards for President after serving as state director on his Iowa caucus campaign.  Campaign manager on Rep. Jim Davis' 2006 gubernatorial campaign in Florida.  Deputy campaign manager for Sen. Tom Daschle's 2004 Senate re-election campaign in South Dakota.  Field director on Sen. Edwards' 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  In 2002 O'Malley served as field director for the South Dakota Democratic Coordinated Campaign, then as field director for Sen. Mary Landrieu's runoff campaign.  In 2001 she was campaign manager for St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.  In 1999-2000 O'Malley was volunteer coordinator for Gore in the NH primary, then worked as a field organizer in New York and Pennsylvania, and in the general election, she was regional field director for the Missouri Coordinated Campaign in the St. Louis Metro area.  O'Malley is a 1998 graduate of Tufts University and hails from Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts.

Industrial States Regional Director
 Paul Diogardi
Left position as national development director of the Democratic Governors' Association to join teh campaign.  Served as acting CEO of ONE.  National field director for DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa). He has worked on three presidential campaigns and numerous other national, state and local political and issue based campaigns. M.P.A. from Harvard University; B.A. in political science from Boston College.

Northeast Regional Director
 Eureka Gilkey
Gilkey started as the campaign's deputy political director in Chicago and later served as Georgia state director and North Carolina political director.  National training director for EMILY's List during the 2006 cycle.  Deputy political director of NARAL Pro-Choice America during the 2004 election cycle.  PAC coordinator at the AFL-CIO during the 2002 election cycle.  Message and polling coordinator at the DNC.  Gilkey has worked on several campaigns, including Diane E. Watson for Congress (CA-32) and Ron Kirk for U.S. Senate in Texas.  First job out of college was political assistant at EMILY's List.  Graduate of Howard University.  Texas native.  [Note. As national training director for EMILY's List, Gilkey collaborated with Obama's Leadership PAC, Hopefund, to launch "Yes We Can" -- a training program for young African American and Hispanic activists].
 

West Regional Director
 Matt Rodriguez
State director on Obama's NH primary campaign.  In 2006 Rodriguez ran Kevin de León's successful campaign for Assembly in California's 45th District (Los Angeles).  District director for Rep. Marty Meehan in Lowell, Mass.  Campaign manager for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)'s 2004 re-election campaign.  Deputy political director on Dick Gephardt's campaign for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination and previously at Gephardt's leadership PAC, the Effective Government Committee.  A year as a volunteer teacher in Roxbury, Mass.  Ran the 2nd CD for Sen. Bill Bradley's 2000 NH primary campaign.  Volunteer teacher with the Jesuit Corps in Roxbury, Mass. for three years.  Graduate of Holy Cross University with a degree in Spanish.

50-State Voter Registration Director Jason Green
Formerly Obama for America political and field staff, including Northwest regional field director in Nevada and Charlotte regional field director in North Carolina.  Third-year law student at Yale.  In 2006 Green served as religious outreach director in Prince George's County, MD on Martin O'Malley's gubernatorial campaign; he also worked on the Kerry campaign in 2004.  Undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis.  Son of a minister.

 

COMMUNICATIONS
Senior Advisor Anita Dunn
("overseeing the campaign’s communications, research, and policy departments")  Principal at Squier Knapp Dunn; joined the firm in 1993 after working for Sen. Bill Bradley.  Media consultant to Sen. Evan Bayh's All America PAC in 2006 and developed strategy and produced the media for Bayh's 2004  re-election campaign.  Senior political advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, 2001-02.  Took leave from the firm in 1999 to serve as communications director and chief strategist for Sen. Bill Bradley’s presidential campaign.  Communications and political director and then chief of staff to Sen. Bill Bradley.  Communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for the 1988 and 1990 election cycles.  Cmmunications director for U.S. Rep. Bob Edgar’s 1984 congressional and 1986 senatorial campaigns.  Press assistant on Sen. John Glenn’s 1984 campaign.  Began her career in politics working for White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan under President Jimmy Carter.


Communications Director
 Dan Pfeiffer
(elevation to communications director announced July 15, 2008)  Initially traveling press secretary, then deputy communications director.  Communications director for Sen. Evan Bayh's All America PAC (started Sept. 2006); came to the PAC from Bayh's Senate office, where he started in 2005.  Deputy campaign manager on Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2004.  Worked on Sen. Tim Johnson's (D-SD) successful 2002 re-election campaign.  Communications director at the Democratic Governors Association.

Deputy Communications Director
 Josh Earnest
Communications director on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign.  Communications director on Tom Vilsack's presidential campaign (Dec. 2006-Feb. 2007).  Communications director for Jim Davis' 2006 campaign for governor in Florida.  In 2003-05, Earnest worked in the communications department at the DNC serving as regional media director in the 2004 cycle and as press secretary in 2005 and early 2006.  Communications director for Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR); he was Berry's deputy campaign manager during his successful 2002 re-election campaign.  Media assistant at Squier-Knapp-Dunn.  Before moving to Washington, DC, Earnest worked in the Houston office of Varoga & Rice (now known as Varoga, Rice & Shalett) as an account executive.  Graduate of Rice University, 1997.
 

National Press Secretary / Spokesman Bill Burton
(from Jan. 2007)  Communications director at the DCCC for the 2006 cycle (started March 2005).  Came to the DCCC from the office of Sen. Richard Durbin (IL). Served as a Regional Communications Director on John Kerry's presidential campaign.  Press Secretary for Rep. Dick Gephardt's Iowa caucus campaign.  Press secretary to Sen. Tom Harkin, 2001-03.  Earlier worked for U.S. Rep. Bill Luther.  Originally from Buffalo, NY.

Deputy Press Secretary

Moira Mack
Most recently at Hildebrand Tewes Consulting.

Deputy Press Secretary

Nick Shapiro
Communications director on the Oregon primary campaign, spokesman on the campaign in Texas, also did press on the California primary campaign.  In Fall 2004 regional press desk at the DNC, then deployed to Nevada for the close of the campaign.  Worked at Deveney Communication.  Graduate of Tulane University.

[title unclear]
 Ben LaBolt
Joined the campaign in Aug. 2007.  Press secretary in Obama's Senate office starting in Feb. 2007.  Spokesman on U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown’s successful 2006 U.S. Senate campaign.  Aide to U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.  Regional director in Portsmouth on Howard Dean's 2004-04 New Hampshire primary campaign.  2003 graduate of Middlebury College with a degree in political science.  President of College Democrats at Middlebury, 2001-03.  Native of LaGrange, Illinois.


Senior Advisor / Traveling Spokeswoman Linda Douglass
(late May 2008)  Thirty-five years working as a journalist.  Douglass left her position as a contributing editor at National Journal to join the campaign.  Capitol Hill correspondent for ABC News through 2006; started as congressional correspondent in Feb. 1998 and was named chief Capitol Hill correspondent in Dec. 2000.  ABC News Justice Department correspondent starting in Jan. 1997.  Joined CBS News in 1993 as a Washington-based correspondent; covered politics and general assignment stories.  Political reporter for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.  Political editor at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, 1983-85. L os Angeles based correspondent for CBS News, 1981-83.  Political editor at KCBS, 1975-80.  Started as a researcher on the assignment desk at KCBS in 1973.  B.A. in psychology from the University of Southern California.

Traveling Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Initially deputy press secretary.  Spokeswoman at the DCCC in the 2006 cycle.  Communications director to Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY).  In Fall 2004 worked on the Kerry campaign doing press for the Kerry/Heinz children.  Deputy communications director and earlier assistant to the state director on Sen. John Kerry's 2003-04 Iowa caucus campaign.  Field organizer for the Iowa Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign in 2002.  Graduate of the College of William and Mary; studied English and sociology.  From Stamford, CT.
 

Regional Communications Directors (announced July 15, 2008)
Northeast - Gannett Tseggai
Started as the campaign's deputy press secretary for the Iowa caucuses.  Previously Sen. Ted Kennedy’s deputy press secretary in Washington, DC.  During the 2004 campaign, she worked as a press assistant on Missouri Gov. Bob Holden's re-election campaign, then as a press assistant on Missouri Victory 2004, the Democratic Coordinated Campaign, and finally was dispatched to Ohio.  Graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia; double majored in political science and communications.

Midwest - Amy Brundage
Served as a deputy press secretary.  Previously worked as spokesperson for Sen. John Kerry's Keeping America's Promise and earlier in Kerry's Senate office and in scheduling and advance on Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.

Southwest - Shannon Gilson
Served as communications director on Obama's Nevada caucus campaign.  Senior strategic communications specialist at AFSCME, 2003-07.  Reporter/senior producer at Pacifica Network News (and KPFK).  Senior editor at Rubin Postaer and Associates.  Graduate of UCLA.

Industrial Midwest - Dan Leistikow
Started on the campaign as communications director for the Wisconsin primary and later served as communications director for the North Carolina primary campaign.  Communications director on John Edwards 2007-08 Iowa caucus campaign.  Communications director to Gov. Jim Doyle (D-WI) starting in 2004, and also worked on Doyle's 2006 re-election campaign; joined Doyle's staff in Feb. 2003 as press secretary.  Communications director for Missouri Senator Jean Carnahan’s 2002 campaign.  Deputy communications director for Carnahan's Senate office in Washington, D.C., 2001.  Communications director for the Washington State Coordinated Campaign in 2000.  Chief speechwriter to Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams from Feb. 1999 to June 2000.  He also served in the offices of Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell and Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie.  1998 graduate of Georgetown University.

South - Melanie Roussell
Most recently press secretary/spokesperson for the House Judiciary Committee.  Communications director and earlier staff assistant for U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (LA-2), April 2002-Feb. 2007.

West - Nayyera Haq
Press secretary at the Children's Defense Fund.  Communications director to U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3), 2005-06.  Press advisor to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.  Worked on specialty media for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  Master's of Studies in Law from the Georgetown University Law Center.  Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Michigan.  Native of New York.


Communications Director for African American Media Corey Ealons
(announced July 21, 2008)  Comes to the campaign from position as deputy chief of staff and communications director for Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama. Ealons served as a regional political director for the Kerry/Edwards campaign.  In 2002 he managed Davis' successful congressional campaign, defeating incumbent Earl Hilliard.  Started in politics during the 2000 election cycle as a member of Sen. Bill Bradley's advance team.  Worked as an associate with Ketchum Communications, an international public relations firm with its Southeast headquarters in Atlanta.  Graduate of the University of Alabama, with a bachelor's degree in Public Relations.  Prior to university Ealons served in the U.S. Army with the 3rd United States Infantry, the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, DC; he served as a photojournalist and public affairs specialist from 1992-96.


Hispanic Media Director
 Vince Casillas
Previously an organizer for A+ Illinois, an effort to reform the quality and funding of public education.
Director of Surrogate Communications
 Dag Vega
(announced July 15, 2008)  Moves over from position as radio and TV director at the DNC.  Deputy press secretary on the Kerry-Edwards campaign.  Deputy national spokesman for the Gore-Lieberman campaign.  Office manager, Office of the Press Secretary at the White House, 1998.

Deputy Director of Surrogate Press Joelle Terry
(announced July 15, 2008; and the campaign’s chief booker for interviews for the Senator)  An associate in the Dewey Square Group’s Sacramento office since 2005.  Prior to joining DSG, Terry worked as an analyst with the Corporate Executive Board, where she forecasted and implemented strategic Human Resource practices specific to client needs.  In 2004, Terry worked in the regional press office for the Kerry/Edwards presidential campaign, helping to execute rapid response press outreach for the Western Region; she also worked on the campaign’s national advance team. A legislative assistant to California State Assembly Member Reyes.  Did research and analysis for the California State Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and International Trade.  Degree in political science/international relations from UC San Diego.  Native Californian.

National Security Spokesperson
 Wendy Morigi
(announced July 15, 2008) Joins the campaign from Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s staff where she served as communications director starting in the latter part of 2002.



Director of Rapid Response
 Christina Reynolds
Research director and senior advisor for communications on former Sen. Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign.  Research director at the DCCC in the 2006 cycle.  Communications director for Sen. Tom Daschle's 2004 reelection campaign.  Research director on Sen. Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign (from Jan. 2003).  Research director for Sen. Tim Johnson's (D-SD) 2002 re-election campaign.  Deputy research director at the DNC.  Graduate of UNC at Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism.

Rapid Response
 Hari Sevugan
(started April 8, 2008 as senior spokesman)  Communications director on Sen. Chris Dodd's presidential campaign (started as deputy communications director in March 2007, then succeeded Beneva Schulte starting in May).  Communications director on the O'Malley-Brown gubernatorial campaign in Maryland starting in Feb. 2006.  Policy director for Tim Kaine's 2005 gubernatorial campaign.  Deputy policy director for Dan Hynes’ 2004 U.S. Senate primary campaign in Illinois, then deputy campaign manager for Dr. Daniel Mongiardo's U.S. Senate campaign in Kentucky.  Practiced securities law in Chicago for two years.  J.D. from Northwestern School of Law.  Two years as an award-winning school teacher in the Washington Heights community of New York as part of Teach for America.  Graduate of the University of Illinois, where he studied political science and finance.

Rapid Response
 Tommy Vietor
Press secretary on Obama's Iowa caucus campaign, then a deputy press secretary in Chicago.  Previously served as Obama's Senate press secretary starting in January 2005.  Deputy press secretary on Obama's 2004 Senate race.  Worked on John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign in the communications department in Raleigh.  Graduate of Kenyon College.



Director of Speechwriting Jon Favreau
Worked in Obama's Senate office.  Deputy director of speechwriting on the Kerry-Edwards campaign; started on John Kerry for President early on as national press assistant.  Graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester,  Mass., 2003 with a degree in political science; class valedictorian.  Worked as a press intern for Kerry in Spring 2001.  From North Reading, Mass.
 
Speechwriter Adam Frankel
Research assistant to Theodore Sorensen and completed a fellowship with the Office of Counter-terrorism at the State Department.  Speechwriter and led the speechwriting research team on the Kerry campaign (took leave from graduate studies at the London School of Economics to join the campaign) >.  Graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, 2003; he was president of the College Democrats, program director of Head Start, columnist for the Daily Princetonian, and a founder of the campus chapter of the Student Global AIDS Campaign.
 
Speechwriter Ben Rhodes
Special Assistant to President Lee H. Hamilton at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars starting in June 2002, and also a freelance speechwriter based in Washington, DC.  Author, with Hamilton and Thomas H. Kean, of Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission (Knopf, 2006).  Previously, he taught and worked in local politics in New York City.
 


POLICY
Senior Policy Strategist Heather Higginbottom
Longtime aide to Sen. John Kerry (D-MA); announced as his legislative director in Feb. 2006.  Deputy national policy director on Kerry's presidential campaign, where she oversaw the development of all domestic policies for the primary and general elections.  Deputy legislative director in Kerry’s Washington Senate office, 1999-2003.  M.P.P. from the George Washington University School of Public Policy.  Undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester.
 
 
Deputy Policy Director Carlos Monje
Special assistant for policy and communications in Obama's Senate office.  Legislative assistant in Sen. Ken Salazar's Senate office.  Spokesman on Erskine Bowles' 2004 U.S. Senate campaign in North Carolina.  Worked on Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign after serving as deputy press secretary in his Senate office.
 
 
Deputy Policy Director Danielle Gray
Leave of absence from position as litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.  Clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer October term 2005.  Worked on the policy staff of Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate campaign.  Clerked for Judge Merrick Garland.  J.D. from Harvard Law School, 2003.  Undergraduate degree from Duke University.  Originally from Long Island.
 

Deputy Director of Economic Policy
 Brian Deese
Law degree from Yale Law School, 2008.  Senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress.  Research assistant at the Center for Global Development.  Junior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 

 
National Security Coordinator Denis McDonough
(July 2007)  Senior fellow and senior advisor to Tom Daschle at the Center for American Progress.  Legislative director for Sen. Ken Salazar.  Foreign policy advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, July 2000-Dec. 2004.  Fellow with the Robert Bosch Foundation of Stuttgart, Germany.  Professional staff of the House International Relations Committee, 1996-99.  Master's degree from Georgetown University, 1996; undergraduate degree from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, 1992.

Economic Policy Advisor
 Jason Furman
(June 10, 2008)  Taking leave of absence from position as senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and resigned from position as director of The Hamilton Project at Brookings; joined Brookings in Jan. 2007 after serving as a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.  Visiting scholar at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.  Director of economic policy for the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004 and earlier policy director on the Clark campaign.  Visiting lecturer in economics at Yale University and Columbia University.  Senior economic advisor on Gore-Lieberman campaign.  Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy in the Clinton Administration.  Senior economic adviser to the Chief Economist of the World Bank.  Staff economist at the Council of Economic Advisers.  Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University; also M.A. and B.A. from Harvard and M.Sc. from the London School of Economics.

Senior Working Group on National Security (June 18, 2008)
Policy Advisors (Nov. 2007)  


 
 

RESEARCH
Research Director Devorah Adler
(reported by Lynn Sweet on Jan. 11, 2007; started on the campaign on Jan. 24)  Research director at the DNC in the 2006 cycle (starting Sept. or Oct. 2005 through Jan. 23).  Previously deputy research director at the DNC under Mike Gehrke.  At the DSCC in 2004.  Policy director for Ron Kirk’s 2002 U.S. Senate race.  Special Assistant in the Office of the Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle.  Has also worked for Nancy Pelosi.  Associate Director for Health Policy (Domestic Policy Council) in the Clinton Administration.  Graduate of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
 
Deputy Research Director Shauna Daly
(reported by Lynn Sweet on Jan. 11, 2007)  Deputy research director at the DNC in the 2006 cycle.  Experience includes work for Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign.
 
 

INTERNET
New Media Director Joe Rospars
On leave from Blue State Digital where he is a founding partner.  Part of Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign Internet team, where he wrote and edited emails and also worked on message development, online brand building, and grassroots organizing.  Prior to the campaign, he taught English in Stockholm, Sweden and wrote for NotGeniuses.com, a political blog.  Bachelor's degree in political science from The George Washington University.  Originally from Long Island.
 
Deputy New Media Director Michael Slaby
Deputy campaign manager on Vi Daley's re-election campaign for Alderman in Chicago.  Production manager at The Strategy Group.  Graduate of Brown University.

Senior Producers: Jon Jones, Scott Thomas.

Design Lead: John Slabyk - Brand strategist based in Chicago.  Worked at Entertainment Direct as a creative director.  Co-founded celsiusDesign.  Studied graphic design at RIT. >

Online Organizers: Emily Bokar, Gray Brooks, Chris Hughes.

External Online Director: Scott Goodstein.

Blogger: Sam Graham-Felsen.

Writers: Sarah Ramey, Nikki Sutton.

Video: Kate Albright-Hanna (Director of Video Production), Chris Northcross (Videographer), Jessica Slider (Video Editor).

Director of Field Production: Arun Chaudhary.

E-mail: Stephen Geer (lead), Teddy Goff (writer, producer), Udai Rohagi (writer/analyst), Stephen Speakman (writer/producer).

Internet Advertising: Michael Organ - Organ has a twenty-year marketing career and is an internet marketing expert.  Author of internetadvocacy.com/The Internet Advocacy Book.  Executive director of Charity Guide, a 501(c)(3).  Founded Mosaic Data Solutions, an Internet and database marketing company, in 2001.  Worked with Accenture for nine years, including as vice president of marketing for Accenture Procurment Solutions.  Co-founded College Financial Aid Service.  Started his marketing career at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising doing television and print ads. >

Data Analyst: Alexander McCormmach.
 

IT
Chief Technology Officer Kevin Malover
Headed the technology team that started up BuySide Realty, an online buyer's agent, in 2005-06.  Founding CIO of Orbitz, the travel Web site co-owned by several airlines, from April 2000 (third employee) through 2004.  Worked for four years as Director of Internet Network Operation at Ameritech Interactive Media Services.  Previously worked with Ameritech New Media Enterprises directing the integration testing of the company`s broadband analog and interactive digital video services.  Joined Ameritech in 1979.  B.S. in mathematics/computer science from Lawrence Technological University in Michigan; M.B.A. from Oakland University in California.
 
Database Manager Luke Peterson
Peterson "has been hacking together databases since 2000 with various organizations in three fourths of the lower 48 states as voter file manager, redistricting consultant, and union organizer."  (Politics Online Conference 2008)
 


SCHEDULING AND ADVANCE
Scheduling and Advance Alyssa Mastromonaco
Political Director at Obama's HOPEFUND.  Deputy scheduling director on John Kerry for President, Inc.  Press secretary for Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA) in his congressional office in Washington.  Worked in Kerry's Senate office in Boston.  Worked in New York City for a number of years.  Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998.  Grew up in Rhinebeck, NY.
 
 
Director of Advance Emmett Beliveau
Attorney at Patton Boggs, LLP.  J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.  Undergraduate degree from Colby College, 1999.  Son of Severin Beliveau, a prominent Maine Democrat.
 
 
Trip Director Marvin Nicholson
Traveling assistant on John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.  Served as Kerry's driver; interned in Kerry's Senate office in 2000.  Moved to Massachusetts from Canada in 1998 (holds dual citizenship).  Graduate of the University of Western Ontario.
 
 

MICHELLE OBAMA
Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff Stephanie Cutter
Communications director on Kerry-Edwards 2004 and John Kerry for President (announced Nov. 11, 2003)  Communications director for the 2004 Democratic National Convention (also participated in the press operation of the Los Angeles, Chicago and New York conventions).  Communications director for Senator Edward M. Kennedy.  Cutter worked for President Clinton as the deputy communications director at the White House and as the Associate Administrator for Communications at the U.S. EPA.  Originally from Raynham, Massachusetts, Cutter is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and Smith College in Northampton, MA. 
 
Communications Director Katie McCormick Lelyveld
A deputy communications director on John Kerry for President.  Associate at The Harbour Group, LLC.  Graduated from Georgetown University in 2001 with a B.A. in psychology and English; two years as a White House intern in the Office of former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

Chief of Staff

 Patty Solis Doyle
(announced June 16, 2008)  Campaign manager on Hillary Clinton for President from the start of the campaign until her resignation on Feb. 10, 2008 (then moved to "senior advisory" role).  Worked with Clinton since 1991.  Executive director of Friends of Hillary and HILLPAC.  Chief of staff on her campaign for U.S. Senate in 2000.  During the Clinton Administration served as special assistant to the president and director of scheduling for First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Formerly an aide to the Chicago city treasurer.  Graduate of Northwestern University.  From Chicago.

Deputy Chief of Staff

 Kathleen McGlynn
Chief of staff on John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign.  Director of special affairs at Kenneth Cole Productions.  Director of Scheduling for Elizabeth Edwards on the Kerry-Edwards campaign.  Director of the CEO's office for the Democratic National Convention Committee, Aug. 2003-Aug. 2004.  Graduate of Merrimack College, 2001.


Trip Director

 Rick Siger
Was already doing advance work for the Obama campaign.  Deputy secretary of commerce and trade in the administration of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine; earlier was director of operations for the Kaine's transition, and director of advance and trip director on Kaine's 2005 gubernatorial campaign.  Served on the national advance staff of the Kerry campaign.  Pittsburgh native.


Communications Director

 Ricki Seidman
Senior principal at TSD Communications; joined the firm in 2000.  Deputy Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice.  Fellow at the Institute of Politics, a program of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.  Executive director of Rock the Vote for three years.  Deputy communications director, counselor to the chief of staff, and director of scheduling and advance for the President during the first term of the Clinton Administration.  Headed the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign's "war room."  B.A. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens.


Traveling Press Secretary

 David Wade
(leave of absence starting Aug. 1, 2008)  Communications director in Kerry's Senate office.  National traveling press secretary on Kerry-Edwards, and earlier deputy communications director on John Kerry for President.  Served as national president of College Democrats of America (and addressed the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago).  Graduate of Brown University, 1997.


Traveling Speechwriter

 Jeff Nussbaum
Prior to starting in this role Nussbaum is co-directing the speechwriting operation for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. He also served as on-site writer, editor, and presentation coach in the 2000 and 2004 conventions.  Nussbaum is a principal at West Wing Writers.  Co-author and collaborator with James Carville on the 2003 bestseller “Had Enough?” and collaborated with Sen. Bob Graham on his book “Intelligence Matters.” Deputy communications director and speechwriter to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle.  A speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore, and later served as a senior speechwriter for Gore-Lieberman 2000.  Graduate of Brown University.


Communications Director for Spouse of VP Nominee

 Leslie Miller
Communications director on Obama's NH primary campaign.  Prior to joining the campaign, Miller led the Dewey Square Group's California practice in San Francisco.  Producer for NBC News in Washington, DC; covered the 1996 and 1998 elections, Congress and the Clinton impeachment hearings.


Traveling Press Secretary for Spouse of VP Nominee
 Chris Mather
Political director at Change to Win (announced May 29, 2007).  A vice president at the American Association for Justice, formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.  Midwest press secretary for the Democratic National Committee.  Managed several campaigns in Illinois and New Jersey.  Deputy political director for NARAL in the 2000 election.  Helped develop a national network of activists for the American Nurses Association.  B.A. in political science and German from the University of Michigan, 1991.

VP team in place before the person known; many of these names first reported by the Washington Post on Aug. 18.


CORRESPONDENCE
Director of Correspondence Amy Lee Boonstra
Experience includes QA Analyst at SPSS Inc.; Statistical Analyst at Econometrics, Inc.  Ph.D. in sociology and demography from University of Michigan, 1997; A.B. in sociology and East Asian studies from University of Chicago, 1991.
 
 

FINANCE
Finance Director Julianna Smoot
Finance director at the DSCC in the 2006 cycle.  Veteran Democratic fundraiser; experience includes work for then Sen. Tom Daschle's DASH PAC, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and Sen. John Edwards.  Graduate of Smith College, 1989.
 
 
Deputy Finance Director Ami Copeland
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)'s 2006 re-election campaign.
 

Illinois - Jordan Kaplan
Sarah Rosenzwieg
Illinois Finance Committee
Co-Chairs: James Crown, president of Henry Crown and Co. and John Rogers, founder and CEO of Ariel Capital Management Inc.

Northern California - Tammy Paster
Chris Young

Southern California and Southwest - Julie Fitzgerald
Adia Smith

Florida - Teddy Johnston
Chair: Kirk Wagar, attorney with Wagar Murray & Feit

Mid-Atlantic - Shomik Dutta - 2005 graduate of Williams College. and Joanna Martin
Ravi Gupta

Midwest/South - Ari Koban

New York - Jenny Yeager
Jennifer Tabach

Northeast - Nate Turnbull
James Dinneen

Northwest - Melissa Schwartz

Southern - Jenny Cizner

Texas and Oklahoma - Adrienne Donato
 
 
Director of Grassroots Fundraising
 Meaghan Burdick
[http://store.barackobama.com]  Director of marketing and online services at the DCCC in the 2006 cycle (started there in Jan. 2005).  Previously at the DSCC.
 
 
National Finance Chair Penny Pritzker 
(announced by the exploratory committee Jan. 31, 2007)  Member of one of America's richest families, founders of Hyatt Hotels.  Founder, chairman and CEO of Classic Residence by Hyatt, a unit that does luxury retirement communities; and chairman of the Board of TransUnion Corporation, a credit data and information management business.  Chairman of Superior Bank, 1989-94.  Bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University, 1981; J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Stanford University, 1984.
National Finance Committee
Hispanic Leadership Council (announced Mar. 27, 2008)
 


CONSULTANTS
Obama Media Team
David Axelrod - AKP Message & Media (see above) and John Del Cecato, also at AKP

Jim Margolis and Jason Ralston  - (announced April 28, 2007; development and placement of media and serving as senior strategists) Senior partner and partner, repectively at GMMB.

additions reported by Chris Cilizza "The Fix" June 2008
David Dixon and Rich Davis - Dixon-Davis Media

Steve Murphy and Mark Putnam - Murphy Putnam Media

Bill Knapp - Squier Knapp Dunn

Saul Shorr 

specialty
SS+K - a strategic communications firm located in New York; helping the campaign with nontraditional ideas and new ways to reach the younger voting population.  The effort is being headed up by Rob Shepardson, founding partner of the firm.

FUSE - St. Louis-based; focusing on African American voters.  Clifford Franklin, president and CEO.

Message and Audience Presentation - based in Austin, TX; focusing on Hispanic voters. James Aldrete, president and creative manager.


Polling
Paul Harstad - CEO of Harstad Strategic Research, based in Boulder, CO.  33 years of experience in government, public affairs, polling, and campaign strategy.   During the 1990s he directed public affairs polling for Talmey-Drake Research & Strategy in Boulder.  During the 1980s he was senior vice president at Peter Hart Research and Garin-Hart Research in Washington, DC.  During the 1970s he worked as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C.
  
Cornell Belcher - President, Brilliant-Corners, Research & Strategies.  Belcher is also DNC pollster.
 
Joel Benenson - Founding partner of the Benenson Strategy Group (BSG).

David Binder - Principal at David Binder Research (San Francisco).

Anna Bennett - Principal at Bennett, Petts & Normington.  Over 20 years experience in public opinion research and strategic consulting.

addition reported by Chris Cilizza "The Fix" June 2008
John Anzalone - Anzalone Liszt Research

 
Direct Mail
Larry Grisolano - Partner in The Strategy Group.
and
Erik Smith (reported by "The Fix" on July 9, 2008)




VICE PRESIDENTIAL VETTING
Jim Johnson (left his role on June 11, 2008 due to controversy over a special loan), Eric Holder, Caroline Kennedy


MORE ADVISORS include
Congressional Liaison Team (announced July 7, 2008) "the primary contact for the individual Senators and House members and will ensure that the member of Congress' counsel is considered in overall message strategy, campaign planning and execution."
Phil Schiliro; Michael Strautmanis; Karen Richardson; Michael Robertson

more detailed bio for Michael Strautmanis...
Chief counsel and deputy chief of staff to Obama in his Senate office.  Lobbyist with the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.  Legislative director and counsel to then Rep. Rod Blagojevich.  Chief of staff to the General Counsel at the U.S. Agency for International Development during the Clinton administration.  Practiced law.  J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law, 1994.


IN THE STATES  in development...


 		AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA
.










HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD
.










MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ
.










NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC
.










SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
.










DC









See also: Brian C. Mooney. "Obama's paid staff dwarfing McCain's," Boston Globe.  July 20, 2008. >

 


SENATE OFFICE
Chief of Staff Pete Rouse
Previously served as chief of staff to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle through to the conclusion of his tenure.  Chief of staff to then Rep. Dick Durbin (D-IL) in the House.
 


Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action