Bob Massie announced yesterday that Joe Trippi is joining his grassroots progressive campaign to move Scott Brown’s seat back into the D column.
Trippi’s work with the Jerry Brown campaign last year helped counteract Meg Whitman’s megabucks financial advantage and turned a neck and neck election into a big win for the Blue Team.
While some MA-Sen challengers are just getting out of the starting gate, other potential challengers still sticking their fingers in the wind trying to decide whether or not to run, and some “dream candidates” are completely unaware of what it takes to get started in Massachusetts politics, Massie is traveling all over the commonwealth impressing D activists and proving he is able to meet the challenges of a campaign that is already in the national spotlight.
Here is the full text of the press release:
Strategist Joe Trippi Joins Bob Massie’s U.S. Senate Campaign to Unseat Scott Brown
Bob Massie announced today that political strategist Joe Trippi has joined his U.S. Senate campaign as a top political advisor.
Having begun his career on Ted Kennedy’s 1980 presidential campaign, Trippi is returning to Massachusetts to help Massie reclaim Kennedy’s seat from Scott Brown.
“Bob Massie has a remarkable story in which he has demonstrated insight, courage, and tenacity. He has been a visionary national leader with a record of success transforming the global economy towards innovation and job-creation,” said Trippi. “He will defend the American dream, excite the Democratic base, draw in independents, and take the seat back from Scott Brown, who simply does not represent the values of Massachusetts.”
A pioneer in internet and grassroots organizing, Trippi served as Campaign Manager for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign. Through his use of the Internet for small-donor fundraising, “Dean for America” raised more money than any Democratic presidential campaign to that point. He has since run and consulted on numerous campaigns, including Governor Jerry Brown of California’s successful race against Republican Meg Whitman in 2010. Despite Whitman spending an historic $178 million of her own money, Brown won with over 53% of the vote.
“Joe Trippi’s history motivating and engaging the grassroots is second to none,” said campaign manager Matt Wilson. “His experience in local, national, and international politics complements Bob’s vision of a better life for all.”
“Joe’s innovation and success stand alone in American politics. I am proud to have him on my team, and look forward to his help engaging Massachusetts voters who are ready to make Scott Brown a half term Senator,” said Massie.
Kinda reminds me of a politician like an Allen Quist, or a Chris Bell. They had a big moment in the sun a few years ago in a new-found situation in politics.
The name has little significance really; since in part he has a persona as a internet genius, when in part it would be hard to find the consultant industry still asleep on the issue of the use of the internet as a viable arena for campaigns.
Trippi’s value is kinda overrated. The press release boasts Jerry Brown’s effective campaign against Meg Whitman, I feel however that Trippi is taking credit for all of what Brown did; negating the fact that Brown has ran very innovate campaigns before Trippi was even around. In addition Brown is a household name in California and likely has quite the politico apparatus of consultants and campaign figures to make the major difference, where I doubt Trippi did much than just be one brain of many; rather than be the single brain making the difference.
In other words he is no James Carville/Paul Begala.
But this sounds like it was written by a Massie staffer.
I recall his appearance in that recent HBO documentary on Doris Haddock. Early on, Haddock brought Trippi aboard as an adviser, and, to me at least, he seemed wholly devoid of political savvy. Like talking to wall. He’s hopped aboard the campaigns of a few charasmatic politicians, but there’s little proof that he’s done anything to bolster their causes.