Jim Margolis

Jim Margolis
Born James David Margolis
(1955-04-30) April 30, 1955
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Nationality American
Ethnicity White
Alma mater Oberlin College (B.A.)
Occupation Senior Partner, GMMB, Inc.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Dr. Vicki Seyfert-Margolis, PhD, Scientist
Children
  • Casey
  • Eric
  • Jeremy

James David "Jim" Margolis (born April 30, 1955) is an American political consultant and communications executive based in Washington, D.C. He served as a Senior Advisor to Barack Obama in both his 2008[1] and 2012[2] campaigns for the White House, taking a lead role in each cycle’s half-billion dollar[3] advertising effort and helping direct the campaign as a member of the core strategic team.[4] He also served as co-producer of Mr. Obama’s two presidential inaugurals[5] and Mr. Obama’s two national nominating conventions (Denver, 2008; Charlotte, 2012).[6] Margolis is a senior partner at GMMB, Inc.,[7] a strategic communications firm and advertising agency known for its work with political leaders, nonprofits and corporations.[8][9] Previously he served as chief of staff to US Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND),[10] chief of staff to US Congressman Howard Wolpe (D-MI),[11] and Deputy Director of Communications for Vice President Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign.[12]

Early life

Margolis is the fifth child of Frederick Margolis,[13] a pediatrician,[14][15] film producer,[16] and inventor,[17] and Elizabeth Rieger,[18] a social worker. He was born in Albuquerque, NM when his father served in the US Public Health Service directing health care on a Navajo Indian reservation (Ft. Defiance, AZ).[19] Margolis grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, attended Kalamazoo public schools and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School (1973).[20] During his middle school years he became active in politics and elections.[21] He headed a regional student group, Students for Better Education at age 14, was hired as field director for a congressional campaign at age 15 and served as the student representative to the Board of Education at age 17. Margolis received his BA from Oberlin College in 1978 with a double major in Government and Communications Studies.[22]

Political career

Immediately after graduating from college, Margolis was hired to manage the long-shot congressional campaign of Howard Wolpe,[23] a state representative (MI-46th district) and former professor at Western Michigan University.[21] The long-shot Wolpe defeated Republican incumbent Garry Brown in November 1978[24] and Margolis, at age 22, came to Washington as Wolpe’s chief of staff.[11] At the time, he was the youngest executive assistant on Capitol Hill.[25]

At 26, Margolis became “Walter Mondale’s man in Illinois,"[25] the state director for Mondale’s key presidential primary win in the state. Next he served as state director for Mondale’s North Carolina win,[26] and then in the general election, became Deputy Director of Communications at the national headquarters in Washington.[12] Margolis joined GMMB (then Greer & Associates) in February 1985.[26] In 1986 he led the strategy and advertising efforts for two upset U.S. Senate wins, Brock Adams (D-WA) who defeated Republican Senator Slade Gorton, and Kent Conrad (D-ND) who defeated Republican Senator Mark Andrews.[27] Campaign and Elections magazine named Margolis a Rising Star.[28] In January 1987, Margolis took a leave of absence from his firm and became Senator Conrad’s first chief of staff.[29][30] In January 1988 he returned to GMMB.[31]

Nationally, Margolis is considered one of the top Democratic political consultants in the nation,[32] winning key national and statewide races. Over the years Margolis’ senate clients have included: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Senator Brock Adams (D-WA),[33] Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Senator Ron Wyden (D-ND), Senator Bob Menendez(D-NJ), Senator John Kerry (D-MA),[34] Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA).[35][36][37] In addition Margolis has worked on behalf of many governors,[35] members of Congress, statewide initiatives,[38][39] and local officials.[40] Internationally, he has advised presidential and prime ministerial candidates in Africa, Asia, Central America and Europe.[9][35]

In U.S. presidential politics, Margolis worked as deputy director of communications for Walter Mondale in 1986.[41] In 1992, the firm was the lead agency for President Clinton’s presidential campaign.[35][42] Margolis served as a senior strategist and lead media consultant for Senator John Kerry’s 2004 presidential primary campaign.[12] During the 2004 Democratic primaries, “Margolis’ commercials featuring Senator John Kerry’s crewmates from Vietnam recalling his heroism were credited with helping him win the nomination."[43] He left the Kerry race after the nomination was effectively won (April 2004), after a dispute with Robert Shrum, another media consultant.[44] In the 2008 and 2012 campaigns, Margolis was a senior advisor to Barack Obama where he “helped craft, hone and sell President Obama’s message"[45] and “was an indispensable part of Mr. Obama’s media team."[43] He “relentlessly bombarded swing-state airwaves for months,”[46] “outfoxing Mitt Romney and his allies to air far more television spots despite being outspent,” and was named one of “The Obama Campaign’s Real Heroes” by Rolling Stone Magazine.[47]

According to the New York Times, “If you live in a state where a presidential contest has been close at some point in the last 20 years, you have probably seen one of Mr. Margolis’s ads."[43]

Non-profit and corporate work

At GMMB, Margolis has advised non-profit and foundation clients including The Center for the Next Generation,[48][49][50][51] The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,[52] The Kaiser Family Foundation, The Sierra Club, The Corporation for National and Community Service, AARP,[53] the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,[54] and the Walmart Foundation.[55]

Corporate clients have included AT&T, MGM Resorts International,[39][56][57] FINRA, Kaiser Permanente, Cisco Systems,[58] and VISA.[55][59] Labor organizations including AFSCME, the UAW and CWA have worked with Margolis on organizing, communications and crisis management issues.[55][60]

References

  1. ↑ Cillizza, Chris. "Margolis Joins Obama's Campaign". 27 April 2007 (The Washington Post).
  2. ↑ Rutenberg, Jim (26 November 2011). "Team Obama Gears Up for 2012". 21 November 2011 (The New York Times).
  3. ↑ Wilson, Reid. "2012 Campaign-Ad Spending Poised to Smash 2008 Record". 29 June 2013. National Journal.
  4. ↑ Dickinson, Tim. "The Obama Campaign's Real Heroes". 7 December 2012. Rolling Stone.
  5. ↑ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (23 November 2012). "Adjusting Expectations for Obama's 2nd Inaugural". 23 November 2012 (The New York Times).
  6. ↑ Rutenberg, Jim (3 September 2012). "Democrats Say U.S. Is Better Off Than Four Years Ago". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "GMMB".
  8. ↑ Cillizza, Chris (27 April 2007). "Margolis Joins Obama's Campaign". The Washington Post.
  9. 1 2 Dobbins, Elizabeth (15 February 2013). "OTC with Jim Margolis, OC ’78, and Senior Advisor to President Obama". Oberlin Review.
  10. ↑ "Congressional Record, U.S. Senate, Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, Farewell to the Senate". CSPAN. 12 December 2012.
  11. 1 2 Estepa, Jessica (27 October 2011). "Former Michigan Rep. Howard Wolpe Dies at Age 71". Roll Call.
  12. 1 2 3 Teinowitz, Ira (12 May 2003). "The Player: Kerry camp taps Margolis to devise media strategy". Advertising Age.
  13. ↑ "Margolis was a doctor who made a difference". Kalamazoo Gazette. 12 February 1991.
  14. ↑ "OBITUARY: MARGOLIS, Dr. Fredrick J, Pediatrician, Community Activist, Educator, Researcher, Inventor". Kalamazoo Gazette. 10 February 1991.
  15. ↑ Mah, Linda (10 February 1991). "Dr. Margolis, a gentle giant among children, dies at 75". Kalamazoo Gazette.
  16. ↑ "'Ounce of Prevention' Is Doctor's Theme". Reading Eagle. 26 August 1976.
  17. ↑ "Margolis". Encore Magazine. September 1990.
  18. ↑ Spencer, Steven (23 April 1955). "They're Saving Lives in Navajo-Land". The Saturday Evening Post.
  19. ↑ "MARGOLIS, Elizabeth Hays Rieger Age 95 of Kalamazoo". Kalamazoo Gazette. 18 December 2011.
  20. ↑ "Jim Margolis, Class of 1973". Kalamazoo Central High School Alumni. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  21. 1 2 Axelrod, David (5 February 1984). "Organizers reflect their candidates". Chicago Tribune.
  22. ↑ Dobbins, Elizabeth (15 February 2013). "OTC with Jim Margolis, OC '78, and Senior Advisor to President Obama". Obelin Review.
  23. ↑ {{cite web|title=Howard Wolpe Wikipedia Page|url=[[Howard Wolpe}}]]
  24. ↑ "Archive: Howard Wolpe profile from 1992 Kalamazoo Gazette (with photo gallery)". Kalamazoo Gazette. 13 December 1991.
  25. 1 2 Axelrod, David (5 February 1984). "Organizers reflect on their candidates". Chicago Tribune.
  26. 1 2 Gailey, Phil; Warren Weaver Jr. (9 February 1985). "BRIEFING; The Mondale Team Today". The New York Times.
  27. ↑ "Consultants Scorecard". Campaigns and Elections: 33–40. November–December 1986.
  28. ↑ "Rising Stars". Campaigns and Elections. 2 9. July 1988.
  29. ↑ "Congressional Record, U.S. Senate. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, Farewell to the Senate". CSPAN. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  30. ↑ James, Kathleen (13 September 1987). "Hill Climbers". Roll Call. p. 19.
  31. ↑ "Conrad's staff chief is retiring". Grand Forks Herald. 5 August 1987.
  32. ↑ Anderson, Heather (8 April 2011). "Obama’s senior adviser to discuss political advertising at Dole Institute event". KU News Release.
  33. ↑ "Consultants Scorecard". Campaigns and Elections 7: 33–40. November–December 1986.
  34. ↑ "2002 SENATE RACES" (PDF). CBS News. 2002–2003.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Anderson, Heather (8 April 2011). "Obama’s senior adviser to discuss political advertising at Dole Institute event". KU News.
  36. ↑ Peters, Jeremy W. (9 May 2012). "Aggressive Ads for Obama, at the Ready". The New York Times.
  37. ↑ Lizza, Ryan (29 October 2006). "Pop Warner". The New Republic.
  38. ↑ Trygstad, Kyle (13 November 2012). "Shop Talk: The Winning and Losing Consultants of the '12 Cycle". Roll Call.
  39. 1 2 Davis, Aaron C.; T.W. Farnam (17 November 2012). "Politically connected firms hit jackpot in Maryland casino fight". The Washington Post.
  40. ↑ Chen, David W. (8 January 2012). "Manhattan Borough President Is Still Aiming High". The New York Times.
  41. ↑ Teinowitz, Ira (12 May 2013). "The Player: Kerry camp taps Margolis to devise media strategy". Advertising Age.
  42. ↑ Peters, Jeremy W.; Williams, Josh; Corasaniti, Nick (7 May 2012). "The Methods of Margolis". The New York Times.
  43. 1 2 3 Peters, Jeremy W. (9 May 2012). "Aggressive Ads for Obama, at the Ready". The New York Times.
  44. ↑ Lizza, Ryan. "Rope-a-Dope". New Republic. Retrieved 3 May 2004.
  45. ↑ Peters, Jeremy W.; Williams, Josh; Corasaniti, Nick (7 May 2012). "The Methods of Margolis". The New York Times.
  46. ↑ Scherer, Michael (19 December 2012). "2012 Person of the Year: Barack Obama, the President Read more: 2012 Person of the Year: Barack Obama, the President | TIME.com http://poy.time.com/2012/12/19/person-of-the-year-barack-obama/#ixzz2l7C9iXq3". Time Magazine. External link in |title= (help)
  47. ↑ Dickinson, Tim (7 December 2012). "The Obama Campaign's Real Heroes". Rolling Stone.
  48. ↑ Lizza, Ryan (16 September 2012). "THE POLITICAL SCENE: THE PRESIDENT AND THE PIPELINE" (PDF).
  49. ↑ Flock, Elizabeth (14 November 2012). "Former Bush and Obama Advisors Team Up To Produce Provocative New Ads About Kids". U.S. News & World Report.
  50. ↑ Russell, Mallory (14 November 2012). "Obama, Bush Advisers Craft Shocking Children's Advocacy Ad". Advertising Age.
  51. ↑ Margolis, Jim; Mark McKinnon (15 November 2012). "Don't forget America's kids". Politico.
  52. ↑ Goetzl, David (17 June 2009). "Media Strategist Margolis Muses On Obama Campaign". MediaDailyNews.
  53. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (26 December 2000). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING -- ADDENDA; Fleishman-Hillard Buys Greer, Margolis". The New York Times.
  54. ↑ Teinowitz, Ira (12 May 2003). "The Player: Kerry camp taps Margolis to devise media strategy". Advertising Age.
  55. 1 2 3 "MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN FROM THE COURTHOUSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE". Harvard University, Institute of Politics. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  56. ↑ Arsenault, Mark (10 April 2013). "MGM woos Springfield voters". The Boston Globe.
  57. ↑ Trygstad, Kyle (13 November 2012). "Shop Talk: The Winning and Losing Consultants of the '12 Cycle". Roll Call.
  58. ↑ Teinowitz, Ira (4 March 2009). "The Player: Kerry camp taps Margolis to devise media strategy". Advertising Age.
  59. ↑ Brister, Kathy (1 January 2010). "Visa's Image Overhaul". American Banker.
  60. ↑ Rozansky, Michael L. (24 December 1995). "Union Wages A War Of Ads Rather Than Strike, The Cwa Is Attacking Bell Atlantic's Image.". The Inquirer.

External links

Media offices
Preceded by
 Media consultant for Harry Reid
2009–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Media consultant for Hillary Clinton
2015–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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