Branding Politix, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News, public relations • December 9th, 2008

A surcharge on suds?

by Chris Lato

I reference this story in this week’s poll – a movement is afoot to hike taxes on alcohol in Wisconsin.

Trying to raise the tax on alcohol in a state known for its powerful tavern lobby and general love for all things alcohol-enhanced poses a lobbying and PR challenge in the best of times, and the DAs association will likely face an uphill climb with this one.

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Strategic Blueprints, Views on News • December 8th, 2008

The game changer

by Chris Lato

It didn’t take long for some on the left to become disillusioned with President-elect Obama’s early policy shifts and Cabinet appointments (and for Team Obama to start pushing back).

A certain degree of this is to be expected. With Democrats making a clean sweep at the federal (and, in Wisconsin, state levels), plenty of Dems think now is the time to make the big, bold moves that couldn’t be done until now. Universal health care, pulling out of Iraq ASAP, and higher taxes, particularly aimed at businesses, to cite three examples.

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Report from the Field, Strategic Blueprints • November 17th, 2008

The Fox Valley goes blue

by Chris Lato

It was once fairly reliable GOP territory. But in the last two election cycles, the Fox Valley has been steadily turning from red to blue. To put a spin on the title of one recent book, what’s the matter with the Fox Valley?

Anyone who thought Democrat U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen would be ‘one and done’ were disappointed this month after John Gard failed to knock one out of the park in his second at-bat.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Democrats see the opportunity and are seizing it. Note the rise of Fox Valley Dems to leadership positions. Wisely, Democrats recognize the chance to build a political dynasty in an area of Wisconsin that was once fairly reliable in leaning GOP.

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Leadership, Messaging, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News, wispundits • November 13th, 2008

Let the turf war begin

by Chris Lato

Interesting stuff...the first real sign that as Democrats take over the Legislature, it’s still going to be a bumpy ride.

Locking Milwaukee lawmakers out of leadership roles sends a message, suggesting that it will be a Milwaukee vs. the-rest-of-Wisconsin session as the new majority grapples with a multi-billion-dollar budget hole.  

The Assembly Speaker will be Mike Sheridan, a rep from Janesville who used to be a UAW president. Other Dem Assembly leaders come from Kaukauna and Wausau.

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Leadership, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News • November 11th, 2008

Rootin’ for Ryan

by Chris Lato

The groundswell of support keeps on building for Rep. Paul Ryan to step up and play a leadership role in the post-election Republican Party. The Wall Street Journal is among those media outlets that likes what it sees.

The question then becomes: does Ryan want it? And Ryan himself is, so far, saying “No thanks.” Family considerations are said to be playing a key role in his decision. Still, he is not totally shrinking from the spotlight.

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2008 Primaries, Strategic Blueprints • November 4th, 2008

When GOTV backfires

by Chris Lato

Oops. A get-out-the-vote effort that went south on the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

I emailed this around to a couple other former Wisconsin GOP’ers when I saw this piece – folks who used to work for the party, as I did – and one response was, “Same old RPW…when are they going to learn?”

I’ve been in the middle of these ‘volunteer-for-hire’ things before, and they rarely, if ever, turn out well. Particularly when they are last-minute scrambles that are shakily organized at best.

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Leadership, Strategic Blueprints, wispundits • October 28th, 2008

The Paul Ryan factor

by Chris Lato

Does U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan have his eye on higher office?

He’d better. Ryan is one of the brightest stars for the Wisconsin GOP right now. He’s young, bright, articulate, telegenic, well-liked in Republican circles and a conservative true believer who appeals to the blue collar constituents that make up a large portion of his 1^st District base.

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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.

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2008 Primaries, Leadership, Messaging, Speeches, Strategic Blueprints • September 26th, 2008

Debate time

by Chris Lato

After some questions, tonight’s first presidential debate is indeed on. The spin machines for both sides will be churning away. Your best bet is to watch and decide for yourself who ‘wins’ and why.

National security and foreign policy are the top issues tonight, and those are considered the GOP’s domain - so many are expecting that John McCain will prevail tonight. However, the economy will surely come into play, and it will be interesting to see whether McCain will face criticism for his perceived politicizing of the crisis this week by suspending his campaign and suggesting that this debate be called off.

For Barack Obama, the challenge is to convey an understanding of the issues that soothes voters questioning his relative lack of legislative experience. High-flying rhetoric can only carry him so far in these debates.

As for McCain, he will have to justify his support for an unpopular war and the perception that his foreign policy agenda will be a continuation of Bush 43. He will also have to show vitality to assuage the concerns of those who say he’s too old for the job.

Both will also end up discussing the economic crisis and will have to connect with middle-class voters who are jittery about the state of the nation and need assurance that the next president is up to the challenge.

Debates are important – it can take just a moment, a quip or a well-placed criticism or badly fumbled answer, to set a campaign on a whole different course. Think Nixon’s sweat and stubble, Bush 41 glancing at his watch, Al Gore’s sighs, etc. The race is close and the undecideds are still out there. This may be the chance for one candidate to get those undecideds breaking his way.

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2008 Primaries, Leadership, Messaging, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News • September 25th, 2008

The Clinton factor

by Chris Lato

There are a couple of ways to look at Bill Clinton’s recent statements on the presidential race. While Bill and Hill endorsed Barack Obama at the DNC, they have hardly been the attack dogs that some Obama supporters would like to see.

Why is that? Some believe the Clintons are going easy on John McCain in an effort to help him win, thereby positioning Hillary for another run for the White House in 2012. Is that overstating the Clintons’ perceived power? Perhaps not, considering a reasonably high percentage of Hillary supporters have yet to warm up to Obama.

I will say this: I was struck by the even-handed tone Bill Clinton has set this week. It has injected a much-needed dose of class in a race that has become increasingly shrill, with extremes on both sides shouting dopey slogans at each other.

For example, Clinton doesn’t read anything particularly nefarious in McCain’s call for Friday’s debate to be delayed. He is also defending his decision to not campaign on Jewish holidays.

I have not always been so willing to commend Bill Clinton – some of the things he said and did on the campaign trail when Hillary was still in the race were eyebrow-raisers, to put it mildly.

But Bill Clinton is nothing if not brilliant at political strategy. Clinton believes that now is not the time to ratchet up the rhetoric, and instead the campaigns should be talking more about solutions. That’s good advice. Heading to the high road at this stage of the game is a smart tactical move, changing the tone in a way that will speak to the middle. Clinton knows the first candidate to move in this direction will likely reap benefits.

With the troubling news about the economy and the potential for a huge bailout dominating the headlines, Clinton recognizes that people are truly worried about their financial future, and are looking to politicians to lead and not play games.

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