Events, Messaging, Strategic Blueprints • January 5th, 2011

Take a deep breath

by Chris Lato

There is no question that unemployment and underemployment are way too high in Wisconsin. People are hurting, struggling to make ends meet. Governor Walker has made it clear his #1 priority (and #2 and #3 priorities) is economic growth and job creation. He has set a jobs goal that some consider lofty, others consider impossible, yet he put a number on the table and will be held to it, as he should be.

All that said, can we give the guy just a small break and let him actually, you know, do the job for a little while before attacking him?

more »

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Events, Views on News • October 29th, 2008

Stick to the script

by Chris Lato

Is this causing the same level of outrage as the McCain campaign’s control over Sarah Palin’s access to the press?

The press is taking note of how Joe Biden has been put on a very short leash in the closing days of the campaign.

Biden’s muzzling is, to a certain extent, inevitable. Biden is commonly perceived as a gaffe machine, and he has caused his share of headaches for the Obama camp. The simple fact is Obama/Biden are seen as front-runners, and the more you wander away from the script, the more likely you are to say something controversial. It is the classic leader’s stance: play it safe, ride it out.

more »

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Events, Promotions, Speeches, Strategic Blueprints • October 21st, 2008

Battleground state no more?

by Chris Lato

In another sign that Wisconsin is losing its ‘battleground state’ status, Barack Obama has cancelled an upcoming campaign appearance in Madison – where he surely would have been greeted as a soon-to-be-conquering hero.

The campaign has offered an excuse (sick grandmother) – and of course, we wish the Obama family well.  But, you know, read between the lines here.

more »

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Events, Views on News • September 10th, 2008

Post-election potpourri

by Chris Lato

It looks as though Rep. Jeff Wood, the Libertarian-turned-Republican-turned-Independent in the 67^th district in western Wisconsin, will have a GOP challenge in the November general election.

Republican Don Moga has surfaced with little time to spare, and garnered enough write-in votes Tuesday to get on the November ballot.

To which I say, good. Anyone who pulls a last-minute switcharoo on voters and his party in an effort to coast to re-election deserves a challenge and should have to answer for the reasons behind those moves. Hopefully Moga will provide vigorous opposition in the weeks to come.

Any other surprises? Not really. In the Milwaukee area, Assembly incumbents all successfully beat back primary challenges. No major shakeups in the Congressional races either.  

Meanwhile, the presidential race just keeps on tightening up, if you believe the numbers from Strategic Vision. The race is a statistical dead heat. Reading through the numbers, one thing does leap out: Sarah Palin enjoys the highest favorables and the lowest unfavorables of all four major party candidates (along with the highest undecideds). How much of that is a convention bump, how much of that will erode as Palin undergoes attacks, etc. all remain to be seen. But it’s becoming clear that the choice of Palin is about the smartest thing John McCain has done in this campaign.

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Branding Politix, Events, Speeches, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News • August 29th, 2008

DNC: A wrap-up

by Chris Lato

History was made this week, and that alone is worthy of acknowledgement. Barack Obama is America’s first black major-party nominee for President. Respect and praise are due. Congratulations to Senator Obama.

As for Obama’s speech last night, was there ever any doubt that Obama could deliver the goods? The words were a combination of bromides, some substance, and a surprising number of shots across the bow directed at John McCain. The pressure to start hitting back at McCain has clearly rattled Team Obama. Politics is politics, after all – despite the claims by some that they are above political gamesmanship. At some point, Obama had to engage, and he chose to do so before an audience of 30 million. It will be interesting to watch the response, particularly in terms of the size of the poll bump Obama will enjoy.

If anything, it could be said that Obama was a victim of his handlers’ hubris. The stage from which Obama spoke, a sort of Parthenon-meets-West-Wing thing that, amazingly, erupts in fireworks at the end of speeches, was a glitzy and perhaps overreaching touch. The spectacle, with 80,000-plus in a big stadium, could be seen as a continuation of the ‘celebrity’ positioning that Obama enjoys, and McCain has criticized as being shallow.

Increasingly, the race is centering on a Big Theme: Change vs. Experience. By any reasonable measure, Obama has enjoyed a meteoric rise with a fairly thin resume but far less baggage as ‘just another politician’ (although a major party candidate, by definition, is a politician no matter how you try to spin it). Meanwhile, McCain has decades of experience as a legislator, but could be broadly painted with the ‘Washington insider’ brush.

Next up – the GOP gets its turn, starting today with McCain’s choice for VP. (CNBC says it’s Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska.) It will either be a brilliant choice or a huge disappointment. I don’t see much room for in-between on this one.

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Events, Leadership, Messaging, Speeches • August 28th, 2008

DNC: Days three and four (and a little bit more)

by Chris Lato

Day three of DNC went by without any apparent hitches in Denver Wednesday. Joe Biden and Bill Clinton delivered what they had to in their speeches, with Clinton offering a persuasive address that offered stronger words of support for Barack Obama than Hillary C. was able to muster.

Obama is seeing the expected bump in the tracking polls. His address tonight is being billed as The Speech of a Lifetime, one that has to seal the deal with disaffected Hillary Democrats, independents and Republicans who believe that change would do America good.

more »

No Comments »

Events, public relations • June 3rd, 2008

Riversplash shots blur future

by wispundit

This just in … man shot in downtown Milwaukee … too many drinks lead to drunken brawl.

Could be any Saturday night in our fair city of beer and brats, right? But this donnybrook has drawn extraordinary attention for its proximity to Riversplash, the unofficial kickoff to Milwaukee’s pride- and revenue-producing festival season.

Organizers of Riversplash, which takes place on the Milwaukee River, have a window of opportunity to ensure the event sees its 20th anniversary in 2009. More than anything, they must take immediate, public and ongoing action that demonstrates how things will work differently moving forward.

While every situation is different, damage control typically starts with taking steps to identify what went wrong, what will be changed and what will be done in the future to prevent Riversplash from becoming “Thugland by the Riv.”

For politicians, event organizers must give them the cover they need with their constituents to once again support Riversplash. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-WV, summarizes constituent relationships very well.

“Convince my constituents,” he says. “If they’re for you, I’m for you. If they’re against you, there isn’t a way on God’s green earth I’m going to support you.”

Part of this constituency includes media and talk show hosts. Event organizers must demonstrate why the story line and commentary should focus on organizers’ ability to hold a safe, fun, family event over the past 19 years and what is being done to ensure another 19 years of prosperity.

Sponsors of events like this also are part of the constituency. As of this posting, event sponsor Miller Beer has not yet pulled the drain plug on its support for Riversplash. But rest assured, if steps are not taken to reverse the perception of how this festival “devolved over the years into a drunken brawl,” as some have described it, activist groups and other people with an axe to grind will come out against continued sponsorship.

Mayor Tom Barrett and Ald. Bob Bauman, according to a Journal Sentinel editorial, said they will be taking a closer look at similar street festivals this year and, in particular, area bars.

If you are an event organizer within a splash of Vermouth of Milwaukee, you, too, will be wise to recheck your policies and procedures, as well as your crisis plan.

No Comments »

Events, Fundraising, Global Concerns, Grass Roots Organization • May 13th, 2008

Help needed ASAP

by Chris Lato

Regular visitors to this site know we’re all about the politics, the public affairs, the public relations, the messaging…you know the score. Today I’m doing something a bit different - asking for your help for a good cause.

This Saturday, in downtown Milwaukee, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Greater Milwaukee Chapter is holding its annual NAMIWalks event. The honorary chairman is Green Bay Packer Greg Jennings and his lovely wife Nicole, who I understand will be there to walk as well.

Avicom Marketing Communications is involved as a sponsor of the event and has a team entered in the fundraiser. I will be peeling my butt off the couch and taking part. I’m asking you to do what you can to support the cause and give what you can. The program is worthy, the effort needs your help and anything you can pitch in would be welcome. NAMI is heavily involved in supporting those struggling with mental illness, along with offering support services to their families. Check out their website if you’d like to learn more.

If you can even give a few bucks, it is very easy to donate online by visiting my NAMIWalks webpage. I’m aiming low ($100 in donations) and hoping to succeed beyond my wildest goals. But I need more than donations from mom and dad to help out.

A sincere thanks for anything you can do. And now we return you to your regularly scheduled blog…

No Comments »

2008 Primaries, Events, Leadership, Speeches • April 15th, 2008

Random campaign trail notes…

by Chris Lato

I see no exciting theme from today’s news feeds, but here are a few fun items of note:

• Union members picket DNC in Michigan and Florida. How low will Hillary go to sew up the nomination???? Actually, it’s just an educated guess that the Clinton team is behind it. Have fun working that little snafu out, DNC! Having said that, those states made their bed and now they have to lie in it, as my mama used to say.
• From the ‘Worst Kept Secrets’ File: McCain prefers to run against Clinton. No s**t, Sherlock, what was your first clue?…as an old buddy used to say.
• The “We’ll Pass, But Thanks for Playing” Award goes to Bob Barr, who is striving to become the Ralph Nader of 2008. Always aim higher, as my teacher used to say.
• The Idiot of the Week Award goes to this guy. Geez, racist much? Keep it up and I’ll wash your mouth out with soap, as my grandma used to say.
• Barack Obama is a liberal elitist who looks down his nose at Middle America. Paging John Kerry! He knows a thing or two about answering to this charge (belatedly). This line of attack pretty much writes itself and rest assured, you have not heard the last of it. As for Obama’s awfully misguided comments, never forget your audience, as some former bosses used to say.

Now get your butt outside and clean up the yard, as my daddy used to say.

No Comments »

Events, Views on News • April 11th, 2008

Observations from Madison

by Chris Lato

I had the pleasure of attending the Wisconsin Women in Government event last night at the Monona Terrace. Packed house, saw plenty of old pals and made a couple of new connections. It was a big night at the Terrace, between this event and the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation fundraiser raging away upstairs. Those docs know how to party!

Attorney General Van Hollen was there, taking a bit of good-natured ribbing about his stance on the Sirius-XM satellite radio merger that has been pending since the dawn of man. (By the way, as an avid Sirius listener, I say the merger can’t happen fast enough.) First Lady Jessica Doyle, former First Lady Sue Ann Thompson, and Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson were among the top Wisconsin women in attendance.

The keynote speaker last night was Jenna Bush. Her transformation from First Party Girl to poised, reasonably articulate First Daughter is pretty much complete. She spoke of her experiences working with AIDS-ravaged nations as part of UNICEF. Ms. Bush received a warm welcome from a crowd that, it is safe to say, included many who vehemently disagree with her father’s administration. As I sat in the audience, I half-expected someone to leap up in protest and start screaming “No blood for oil!” It was Madison, after all. But nope, it never happened. No protestors outside, either. The cold and heavy rain must have scared them off. The crowd was respectful.

Wisconsin Women in Government does a fair job of walking the bipartisan line, basically picking Republican-leaning folks to speak one year, and Democrat speakers the next. For example, last year, Elizabeth Edwards spoke.

These observations all tied together for me as I think back on an interesting conversation I had with a Democrat lobbyist who’s been around for a while, seen his share of power changeovers in Madison and spoke a simple truth: you have to learn to work with both sides of the aisle.

You may not agree with your political counterpart, but there are ways to find common ground. Not to get all ‘Kumbaya’ on you, but that was the unspoken message of the evening. For one brief, shining moment, we all got along. Or maybe it was the wine talking.

No Comments »