GSPM Notable Alumni

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Mohamad Elleithee
Master's Degree in Political Management, 1995

A founding partner focusing on communications and campaign strategy, Mo Elleithee brings to Hilltop Public Solutions a decade of political campaign experience. A veteran of three presidential campaigns, Elleithee has worked on top-tier campaigns at every level of government and in every region of the country.

In January 2007, Elleithee was named Senior Spokesperson for Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Elleithee was a key member of the teams that elected the last two Governors of Virginia. In 2005, he served as Communications Director on the winning campaign of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, where he developed and coordinated the earned, paid and field communications plans, while overseeing the press, research, policy, internet and advance departments. As one of the campaign's top strategists, he helped to turn around a 14-point deficit in the polls to a 6-point margin of victory on Election Night, keeping the Governor's mansion of the traditionally “red-state” in Democratic hands.

In 2001, Elleithee served as press secretary on the campaign that elected Mark Warner as the first Democratic Governor of Virginia in twelve years. In this capacity, Elleithee traveled the state with the candidate and served as chief spokesman.

Referring to his work, the conservative editorial page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, wrote that “Virginia Democrats smile when their gubernatorial candidates have big Mo.”

During the 2004 presidential primaries, Elleithee served as New Hampshire Communications Director for Gen. Wesley Clark, helping to devise a strategy that led to an impressive third-place finish – the strongest finish of any non-New Englander in the race. Before joining the Clark campaign, Elleithee served as National Press Secretary on Senator Bob Graham's presidential campaign.

Elleithee began the 2000 presidential campaign as New Hampshire Communications Director on the Bill Bradley for President campaign. He went on to serve as Midwest Regional Communications Director (overseeing press relations in Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri and Illinois), and then as Washington State Communications Director.

In 2002, Elleithee served as campaign manager on Janet Reno's primary campaign for Governor of Florida, before serving as Deputy Campaign Manager on Bill McBride's general election campaign against incumbent Jeb Bush.

In 1998, Elleithee was Deputy Campaign Manager on the Tom Udall for Congress campaign in New Mexico, where he oversaw the campaign's budget, and earned media, paid media, research, policy departments. That year, Tom Udall was one of only five Democratic House challengers to beat a Republican incumbent. Elleithee's work also includes a number of other campaigns in Virginia, Illinois, California, North Carolina, and Arizona. He's also worked on both the House and Senate sides of Capitol Hill.

Besides campaign work, Elleithee has also worked for a number of interest groups and non-profit organizations. As Senior Vice President and Communications Director of the Thunder Road Group in 2004, Elleithee oversaw the state communications operations of major 527s including America Coming Together, America Votes and The Media Fund. He is also a former Field and Communications Director of The Interfaith Alliance.

Elleithee received his Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and his Master of Arts degree from the Graduate School of Political Management in 1995 at The George Washington University. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.