Top Strategist Takes Over Reins of Glassman Campaign

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Rodney Glassman is beefing up his U.S. Senate campaign to unseat longtime incumbent John McCain, who continues to fail to represent the people of Arizona.

Glassman has brought on veteran Democratic strategist Bill Romjue to run his campaign.

Romjue most recently ran Andrew Romanoff’s underdog bid for the U.S. Senate in Colorado, a race that drew national attention and nearly unseated an establishment candidate. Romjue also has worked for Vice President Joe Biden, former Missouri congressman Richard Gephardt and former U.S. senator Gary Hart of Colorado. He joins a venerable team of senior advisers that includes:

* Advertising consultant Dane Strother, of Strother, Duffy, Strother. Strother Strategies’ first foray into Arizona politics was helping former U.S. senator Dennis DeConcini get reelected in 1998. Strother works for Attorney General Gary King in New Mexico, and in the past month has won Democratic gubernatorial primaries in Georgia and Oklahoma. Strother has helped elect more than a dozen U.S. senators, and clients have included Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas and Mary Landrieu in Louisiana.
* Direct mail consultant Achim Bergmann, of The Baughman Co. The Baughman Co. has produced winning direct mail from coast to coast, including several Democratic wins in Arizona and the West, and Hillary Clinton’s presidential primary victory in Arizona. Before joining the firm, Bergmann helped Rep. Harry Mitchell defeat former congressman J.D. Hayworth and advised Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in her bid to capture a southern Arizona seat that had been held by a Republican for 22 years.
* Ben Tulchin, of Tulchin Research, a leading polling and strategic consulting firm with deep experience in Arizona and the West.

Romjue officially takes the reins Wednesday from former campaign manager Patrick Mellody, who left to pursue other opportunities.

“We thank Patrick for all his hard work, ” Glassman said. “My campaign team is focused on the general election and remains dedicated to the people of Arizona, whom John McCain has ignored for 28 years. Nearly 300,000 Arizonans have lost their jobs since the beginning of the recession. Half of Arizona homeowners are under water on their mortgages, and Arizona ranks dead last in classroom spending. I pledge to serve the people of Arizona. John McCain has only seemed interested in serving himself and his own narrow interests.”

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