Rudy Giuliani Watch: Giuliani Recruits Two Veteran GOP Communicators
Matt David (left) and Katie Levinson are top communications staffers on the governor’s campaign. Eric Luse photo courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle
National Journal: Giuliani Staffs A Communications Office
Ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani has recruited two veteran GOP communicators to set up the press shop for his presidential exploratory committee.
Katie Levinson, a former White House aide who was most recently the comm. dir for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s re-election, will be a senior adviser. She’ll be tasked with setting up the campaign’s communications operations. She’ll map out the campaign’s press plan and help hire spokespersons and researchers.
Anthony Carbonetti, a top aide to Giuliani, said in a statement that Levinson’s “experience coupled with her political acumen garnered during her political career in the White House and the RNC are great addition to our talented team.” At the White House, Levinson was the chief liaison between senior White House officials and the broadcast media and was in charge of the surrogate booking operation. At the RNC, the budget for her division — Television and Radio operations — exceeded several million dollars.
Also, Maria Comella will be the Giuliani exploratory committee’s director for regional media. She has experience in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Most recently, Comella served as comm. dir for Ex-Rep. Jim Nussle’s IA GOV campaign. In ’04, she was the NH comm. dir for the Bush-Cheney re-election effort. She’s worked for Gov. George Pataki and the Winston Group and even, at her young age, has Capitol Hill experience.
A well-organized communications shop is desperately needed by the Giuliani campaign. Levinson is a seasoned AND successful operative – part of the “WONDER TEAM” of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s California re-election.
Washington Post: Giuliani Fills Out National Staff
Levinson and Comella join former Republican National Committee political director Mike Duhaime in the Giuliani camp. Giuliani is interviewing for a number of other top-level positions, and one informed source familiar with the process suggested more hirings will be announced next week.
The news about Comella and Levinson is the latest sign that Giuliani is more likely than not to run for president in 2008.
Now, Katie, what role will the blogosphere have in the Giuliani campaign? McCain and Romney both will/already have profound blog operations.
In the meantime, another poll for the Mayor.
Linked to Stop The ACLU
Stay tuned…….
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (right) attended a 2002 news conference with California GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon.
Cross-Posted to the Giuliani Blog
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