Somethin’ Special. A victory for Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown’s campaign was also a victory for Mitt Romney’s team, and the consulting group’s stock has risen as a result.
The group of Massachusetts operatives from The Shawmut Group who guided the former Massachusetts governor’s bid for president in 2008 were also behind Brown’s come-from-behind special election victory this week. Romney is also considered a likely White House contender in 2012.
The Shawmut Group was responsible for general consulting and media for Brown’s campaign, while survey giant Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies performed polling on behalf of the campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
“In a very short period of time, the Brown campaign shifted from a sleepy Massachusetts campaign to a national campaign and did it with relative ease due in large part to the circle of folks around him,” said Joe Wall, a fellow former Romney aide. “A marathon presidential campaign prepares you for just about everything and their pedigree was a tremendous asset to a candidate that was largely unknown outside of Wrenthem, Mass., a mere couple weeks ago.”
The GOP consulting group includes former Romney campaign manager and gubernatorial chief of staff Beth Myers, Romney communications director Eric Fehrnstrom and former Romney deputy campaign Peter Flaherty. All three principals at the firm continue to work with Romney at his Free and Strong America Political Action Committee.
In an online post about the Brown victory, Newhouse also hailed the consulting team and the NRSC’s efforts.
“For a state so bereft of GOP officeholders, it’s a gold mine of political talent,” Newhouse wrote. “It was a seamless and selfless effort made possible by the NRSC and Mitt Romney’s on-the-ground team that made the difference here.”
In addition to Brown, The Shawmut Group also advises George Demos’ (R) bid in New York’s 1st District against Democratic Rep. Timothy H. Bishop, state House Minority Whip Rep. Rick Lazio’s (R) bid for governor in New York. The group used to work with Connecticut businessman Tom Foley(R) on his bid for Senate until November, when the Republican shifted races to run for governor instead.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee used Mark Mellman of The Mellman Group for polling and Saul Shorr for media.
State Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), who was expected to win the seat in a landslide until the last few weeks, used 4C Partners for national fundraising, GMMB for media and Celinda Lake to do her polling for the race.
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