The biggest indicator of a losing campaign is the loss of your most trusted and faithful consigliere.
And I don’t use that term lightly. I didn’t say “Campaign Director”, “Strategy Consultant” or “Finance Director”. A consigliere is the man who negotiates with the opposition on your behalf, brings talent and strategy together into an actionable campaign plan, and perhaps most importantly keeps the objective of a campaign in sight.
He’s irreplaceable because he got on board early (the first quality of a Rising Star), rose to publicly defend his boss in spite of potential ‘political fallout’ (the second quality), and refused to be a mere Yes Man or Cog in a Campaign Machine (yet another). On behalf of the Donors, Workers, Activists and Party Leaders within the Republican Party – when Brian Anderson and Mike Coffman parted ways, we all took note.
And in the interest of opening this up for discussion, I would like to ask Lefty Rivera: Who’s one of your Rising Stars? I’d like to nominate Cody Wertz. I believe Wertz is an incredible talent and asset to any candidate he’s with, and he certainly seems to meet all three qualifiers I listed above. Lefty: Your Turn…
John Marshall and Frank McNulty gets my vote. Those guys are studs!
Posted by: Jessie | March 24, 2005 at 10:23 AM
the Dem rising star awards this year went to Morgan Carroll and Mike Miles (Speaker Romanoff got the Dem of the Year). Last year, if I recall correctly, Jana Locke got a rising star award as well (she has since gone to DC for law/grad school.)
There are younger rising stars in both parties that are worth noting. Keep your eyes out for those.
Posted by: politicalprincess | March 24, 2005 at 10:59 AM
John Marshall? Honestly!
Posted by: grouchy R | March 24, 2005 at 11:11 AM
Enough about Marshall. McNulty's name is being circulated by well knowns in DougCo for Harvey's seat. He would be a highly credible candidate and would able to raise more money than the rest...the field has yet to round out.
Posted by: jeanni | March 24, 2005 at 04:04 PM
Underdog & Red Hawk-
You guys sure do like to blow smoke up Culpeppers ass. He was mediocre at BEST, and my sources tell me that he mismanged Coors Springs office so bad, that volunteers didn't want to show up until Broerman got involved and pleaded with them.
And hey Wertz, don't let that police record thing of yours stop you from being a Dem Rising Star. I am sure you can use that as a resume enhancer with that party!
Posted by: Red Hawk Sucks | April 14, 2005 at 04:31 PM
Rising stars in the Colorado democratic party...hmm? If alcoholic midgets are not excluded, I would certainly go with Sal Pace.
Posted by: Ray Lopez | October 24, 2005 at 09:21 PM