2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Mitt Romney Announces South Dakota Endorsements

Mitt Romney Announces South Dakota Endorsements

Today, Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC announced the endorsement of the following South Dakota candidates:
 
Lieutenant Governor Dennis Daugaard:  Dennis Daugaard currently serves as Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota, and is now running for Governor

State Representative Kristi Noem:  Kristi Noem currently represents District 6 in the South Dakota House of Representatives, where she serves as the Assistant Majority Leader.  She is also a small business owner and is now running to represent South Dakota’s Congressional District.
 
The PAC also announced that is sending Daugaard a $5,000 contribution toward his gubernatorial campaign, and that it has sent Noem a $2,500 contribution toward her Congressional campaign.
 
Of his endorsement of Lieutenant Governor Dennis Daugaard’s gubernatorial campaign, Romney said:
 
“Instead of growing our economy, too many of our leaders are focused on growing the size of government.   We need leaders like Dennis Daugaard who will put the interests of hardworking Americans first, and say no to reckless spending and higher taxes.”
 
Of his endorsement of Kristi Noem’s Congressional campaign, Romney said:
 
 “Far too many of our elected officials have forgotten that service is a key part of public service. A small business owner, and experienced rancher and farmer, Kristi Noem understands South Dakota and its values, and will restore its voice to the U.S. House.”

Iowa Democratic Party Announces Sam Roecker As Communications Director

Iowa Democratic Party Announces Sam Roecker As Communications Director

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky announced today Sam Roecker will be the Party’s Communications Director effective immediately.

“Sam Roecker will be a vital part of the Iowa Democratic Party as we build on our past successes and prepare for Democratic victories in November,” Dvorsky said. “Sam’s background in both traditional and new media communications will make him an asset to our team as we re-elect Governor Culver, send Roxanne Conlin to the Senate and ensure victories down the Democratic ticket.”

Roecker most recently served as New Media Director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. He has also worked with local, statewide, and national campaigns on communications and new media strategies.

“I’m excited to be a part of the dedicated team at the Iowa Democratic Party and I look forward to delivering our message across the state,” said Roecker

RNC Chairman Michael Steele Announces New Committee Appointments

RNC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL STEELE ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele today named Maryland RNC Committeeman and Budget Committee Chairman Louis Pope Treasurer of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2012 Republican National Convention and Indiana National Committeewoman Dee Dee Benkie RNC Members Finance Co-Chairwoman.

“I am proud to announce the appointment of RNC Committeeman and RNC Budget Committee Chairman Louis Pope as Treasurer of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2012 Republican National Convention. The Committee on Arrangements is charged with putting together the Republican National Convention that will be held in Tampa, FL in the week of August 27, 2012.  Louis has been a conscientious steward of donor money while serving as Chairman of the RNC Budget Committee and his exceptional qualifications will help make the Republican National Convention in Tampa a huge success.

“I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Indiana National Committeewoman Dee Dee Benkie as RNC Members Finance Co-Chairwoman. She has been a tireless advocate of Republican principles and will make a great addition to an already very strong team. I look forward to working with both Louis and Dee Dee to continue to build on this past year’s electoral successes and work towards significant Republican wins this November and in the future.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Mitt Romney Announces Maine Endorsements

Mitt Romney Announces Maine Endorsements
Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC announced the endorsement of the following Maine candidates:

Mayor Paul LePage:  Paul LePage, a mayor and businessman, is now running to become Maine’s next Governor.
 
Jason Levesque:  Jason Levesque, a civic leader and successful entrepreneur, is running to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.
 
Dean Scontras:  Dean Scontras, a successful businessman, is running to represent Maine’s 1st Congressional District.
 
The PAC also announced that it is sending LePage a maximum $750 contribution toward his gubernatorial campaign, and that it is sending Levesque and Scontras each a $2,500 contribution toward their respective Congressional campaigns.
 
“Too many of our leaders today are more focused on growing the size of government than growing our economy.  That is why we need leaders like Paul LePage, Jason Levesque, and Dean Scontras who will say no to higher spending, higher debt, and higher taxes, and work to turn our economy around,” said Romney.

Mitt Romney Announces Utah Endorsements

Mitt Romney Announces Utah Endorsements

Governor Romney issued the following statement on last night’s primary election in Utah: 
 
“Last night, the people of Utah voted and chose Mike Lee as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.  He will be a strong voice for Utah – and the nation – in the fight against the Washington culture of higher taxes, higher spending, and higher debt, and I am proud to stand with him today.  Mike Lee is part of a strong group of Utah candidates including Governor Gary Herbert, Congressman Rob Bishop, Congressman Jason Chaffetz, and Morgan Philpot who will fight every day to put people back to work and get our economy back on track.”
 
Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC announced the endorsement of the following Utah candidates today, and is sending them a total of $12,500 in campaign contributions:
 
Governor Gary Herbert:  Gary Herbert currently serves as the Governor of Utah and is running for reelection.
 
Mike Lee:  Mike Lee, an attorney who previously served as General Counsel to Governor Huntsman, a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Alito, and an Assistant U.S. Attorney, is now running for U.S. Senate in Utah.

Congressman Rob Bishop:  Rob Bishop currently represents Utah’s 1st Congressional District and is running for reelection.
 
Congressman Jason Chaffetz:  Jason Chaffetz currently represents Utah’s 3rd Congressional District and is running for reelection.
 
Morgan Philpot:  Morgan Philpot, previously served the people of Utah as a State Representative and is now running to represent Utah’s 2nd Congressional District. 
 
The PAC is sending the following contributions to each of the federal candidates: $5,000 to Lee’s U.S. Senate campaign, and $2,500 each to the Congressional campaigns of Bishop, Chaffetz, and Philpot.

Romney Congratulates Nikki Haley On Primary Victory And Announces Additional South Carolina Endorsements

Romney Congratulates Nikki Haley on Primary Victory and Announces additional South Carolina endorsements
 
Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on Nikki Haley’s primary runoff election victory last night:
 
“Against the longest of odds, Nikki Haley took on the political establishment and won. Nikki's conservative reform message resonated throughout the state of South Carolina because she is committed to fiscal discipline and is not tied to the old way of doing things. Putting her in the governor's office will represent real progress in the effort to control government spending and restore the free market principles that have built and guided our nation.”
 
Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC also announced three additional endorsements in South Carolina.  They are as follows:
 
Senator Jim DeMint:  Senator Jim DeMint currently serves the people of South Carolina in the U.S. Senate and is running for reelection.
 
State Senator Mick Mulvaney:  A current member of the South Carolina State Senate, businessman, and attorney, Mick Mulvaney is running to represent South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District.
 
State Representative Tim Scott:  A current member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Tim Scott is running to represent South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.

The PAC also announced that it is sending Scott’s Congressional campaign a $2,500 contribution, and that it has already contributed $5,000 to DeMint’s U.S. Senate campaign and $2,500 to Mulvaney’s Congressional campaign.
 
“Instead of working to strengthen our economy, President Obama and the liberals in Congress are more interested in growing government.  Whether it's a costly stimulus bill, auto company bailouts, cap-and-trade, job-killing card check legislation, or a health care law that imposes higher taxes, cuts Medicare, and contains insurance price controls, they have come down on the side of big government over and over again.  That is why it is critical that we elect leaders like DeMint, Mulvaney, and Scott who will focus on getting our economy back on track,” said Romney.

Mitt Romney Announces North Dakota Endorsements

Mitt Romney Announces North Dakota Endorsements

Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC announced the endorsement of the following North Dakota candidates. 
 
Governor John Hoeven:  John Hoeven currently serves as the Governor of North Dakota and is now running for U.S. Senate.
 
State Representative Rick Berg:  Rick Berg served the people of North Dakota as a State Representative for over 25 years and is now running to represent North Dakota’s Congressional District.
 
The PAC also announced that is sending Hoeven a $5,000 contribution toward his U.S. Senate campaign and Berg a $2,500 contribution toward his Congressional campaign.
 
 “Rather than taking steps to turn our economy around, too many of our leaders are instead enacting policies that are hurting small business and stalling our economic recovery.  We need leaders who will fight for lower taxes, less government, and reduced spending, and that is why I am endorsing these candidates today,” said Romney.
 
These endorsements are another in a series of state rollouts of the PAC’s 2010 endorsements, which are aimed at electing conservative candidates who will work to lower taxes and spending, restore commonsense principles to healthcare and get our economy moving again. As part of this program, Romney’s PAC also has announced endorsements in Ohio, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Nevada, Illinois, Georgia, Texas, Indiana, Idaho, New Mexico, Virginia, and Florida.

Pawlenty Deputy Chief Of Staff Brian McClung To Leave Governor's Office To Direct MN Forward

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF BRIAN MCCLUNG TO LEAVE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE -- June 16, 2010 
 
Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty announced today that his spokesman Brian McClung will be leaving the Governor’s Office effective Friday, June 18.

McClung is forming McClung Communications & Public Relations, LLC, and will direct MN Forward, an independent expenditure political fund supported by Minnesota job providers.

“Brian is best known as the public voice of our office, but he has been much more,” Governor Pawlenty said. “He’s been one of my closest advisors during both terms and I greatly value his insights, loyalty and expertise. Brian is an integral part of our team and I know he will continue to have great success.”

McClung, 37, joined Governor Pawlenty’s office nearly six years ago, first in the role of Press Secretary. He was promoted to Director of Communications in 2005 and to Deputy Chief of Staff in 2009.

“Working for Governor Pawlenty has been a great honor and the experience of a lifetime,” McClung said. “Minnesota is a wonderful state and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to do my small part working in this office to make it even better.”

Governor Pawlenty also announced that Bruce Gordon will be promoted to Director of Communications effective Monday, June 21 and will serve as the Governor’s primary spokesman. Gordon has worked in the Governor’s Office for nearly five years and was previously Director of Communications at the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Eric Woolson, Veteran Of Iowa Campaigns, Retained For 2010 Chuck Grassley For Senate Communications Role

Eric Woolson, Veteran Of Iowa Campaigns, Retained For 2010 Chuck Grassley For Senate Communications Role

DES MOINES – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s re-election campaign has retained Iowa political veteran Eric Woolson as spokesman and to guide its communications activities through the general election.

“Eric has a unique working relationship with Chuck Grassley over more than 30 years. He was a newspaper reporter in the late 1970s when he first covered Grassley, wrote his biography in 1995 and has remained in touch during past 13-plus years that he has been a political professional,” campaign manager Bob Renaud said. “He has good understanding of who Chuck Grassley is and what he stands for. He knows Chuck Grassley has an outstanding message and record to communicate and he’s looking forward to getting that word out.”

Woolson managed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign to victory in the 2008 precinct caucuses. He most recently managed the gubernatorial campaign of Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats, moving from the role of communications consultant to lead the campaign when called upon to do so in January.

“Chuck Grassley has always been there when Iowans need him. He knows this state as few people ever will and he’s a respected voice in Washington who gets things done. That’s why he was just named the hardest-working lawmaker of the 535 senators and members of Congress and why Iowans hold Chuck Grassley in such high regard,” Woolson said. “And, that’s why I am so excited to work with him in this new role.”

Woolson was a member of the Iowa press corps for 20 years. He started his newspaper career in Boone in 1976 and worked for newspapers in Madrid, Guthrie Center, Webster City and Keokuk before joining United Press International in 1983. He wrote for the Waterloo Courier for 11 years, including nine as its political reporter/columnist and two years as its editorial page editor.

He was Gov. Terry Branstad’s communications director and press secretary during Branstad’s final term in office. He served as Iowa communications director to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign and was the communications director for the Doug Gross for Governor campaign in 2002.

In 2002, he founded The Concept Works, a West Des Moines firm that provides public and government relations counsel, marketing services and crisis management for corporate, political and individual clients.

Rick Santorum Heads Back To Iowa June 25 and 26, 2010

Rick Santorum Heads Back to Iowa June 25, 26

Washington, DC – Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) will return to Iowa June 25 and 26 for events in Pleasant Valley, Ainsworth and Des Moines.

“I am looking forward to returning to Iowa next week.  Each time I visit the Hawkeye state, I am struck by how concerned Iowans are about the state of our nation.  They are fired up about the mid-term elections and engaged about what can be done to return our country back to the road of fiscal discipline and economic prosperity.  I look forward to discussing these issues and many others during my visit,” said former Senator Rick Santorum.  

In addition to private meetings with Republican Party leaders and leaders within the small business community, Senator Santorum will have the following open press events:

Friday, June 25

12:00 PM CT – Senator Santorum will keynote the Scott County Lincoln Club Luncheon at the Davenport Country Club located at 25500 Valley Drive in Pleasant Valley, IA. 

5:30 PM CT – Senator Santorum will be the special guest at a fundraiser for State Senate candidate Sandy Greiner.  The event will take place at the Washington County Conservation Center, 2943 Highway 92 in Ainsworth, IA.

Saturday, June 26

11:30 AM – Senator Santorum will keynote a luncheon at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Convention.  The luncheon, which is for delegates and alternate delegates, is sponsored by The Iowa Republican, American Future Fund and Iowa Progress Project.  The convention luncheon will take place at Hy-Vee Hall located at 730 3rd Street in Des Moines, IA.