Michael DuHaime
Encyclopedia
Mike DuHaime a Republican
strategist and public affairs executive, is a managing director at Mercury Public Affairs, LLC,a national public affairs firm. He was the chief strategist for the successful campaign of former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie for Governor of New Jersey in 2009. Christie unseated the incumbent, Democrat Jon Corzine, by nearly 100,000 votes. He served as one of ten members of Gov. Christie's transition team and was the chairman of the authorities subcommittee.
He managed Rudy Giuliani's campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. He has served as Political Director of the Republican National Committee, as Regional Political Director of President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, and as Executive Director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
DuHaime served as Political Director of the Republican National Committee
from January 2005 to December 2006, where he become known for his ability to effectively organize on the grassroots level. He is considered a protege of Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman
, and Terry Nelson
.
As a Regional Political Director for Bush-Cheney presidential campaign in 2004
, DuHaime helped develop the national "get out the vote
" and Election Day efforts, and directed the day-to-day campaign operations in 11 northeastern states, which yielded millions more votes for the President in the region and kept John Kerry
tied up in his Northeastern
base.
Prior to working on the Bush campaign, DuHaime worked for Republicans at the local, state and federal level.
His father, Richard DuHaime, a conservative Republican, was a four-term Passaic County
Freeholder
and ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996. He finished second in a three-way Republican primary, only capturing 20% of the vote and losing to Rep. Richard Zimmer. In Passaic County, he won nearly 78% of the vote.
His mother, Anne DuHaime, served as the Mayor of Bloomingdale. His sister, Debbie DuHaime, is the morning traffic reporter for WABC
radio in New York City, and appears on the Imus in the Morning
program.
Michael DuHaime is married to Dore Carroll, who used to report for the Star Ledger, and has two children, Natalie and Owen.
in 1995 with a B.A. in Journalism and Political science. He was also a four-year skater on the Rutgers Ice Hockey team where he served as a captain for championship teams his junior and senior seasons. The team played in the MCHC and did compete at the NCAA level.
In 1997, he became the Campaign Manager for Anthony Bucco
, a Republican State Assemblyman from Morris County who was challenging an incumbent Democratic State Senator in New Jersey's 25th Legislative District. Bucco defeated Peter Mancuso, a former Mayor of Morris Township and a former New Jersey Republican State Committee Finance Chairman, in the Republican primary by a 56%-44% margin. In the General Election, Bucco defeated incumbent State Sen. Gordon MacInnes
by a 55%-44% margin. Bucco won despite being heavily outspent in both races, and was the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic State Senator in New Jersey from 1991 to 2007.
As the Vice-President of Political Communications in 1998 for Campbell & Pusateri, Ltd., a national Republican consulting firm in Alexandria, Virginia, DuHaime designed paid media and mail strategies for races throughout the country, the most noteworthy of which was the open seat congressional race in Pennsylvania's 10th District, where Democrats outnumbered Republicans. DuHaime's client, businessman Don Sherwood
, assembled "a grass roots organization of 1,800 volunteers and propounding an agenda that combined small business to cut taxes" (Almanac of American Politics 2000) and won an eight-candidate field in the Republican primary with 43% of the vote. Scranton Mayor Jamse Connors finished second with 23%. In the General Election, Sherwood defeated Patrick Casey, the son of popular former Governor Robert Casey
, by 515 votes, 49%-48%.
Recognized for his ability and success Campaigns & Elections Magazine named DuHaime a “Rising Star in American Politics” at the age of 24 in 1998, and he has taught seminars on political communication and grassroots campaigning to candidates and operatives in New Jersey and Washington. DuHaime has also spoken on grassroots politics at Harvard and Rutgers.
In 1999, DuHaime returned to New Jersey to work in the District Office of Rep. Bob Franks
, a former Republican State Chairman who was in his fourth term in the House. He also served as Executive Director of New Jersey's New Century, a political action committee chaired by Congressman Franks.
was running to succeed him. But in September 1999, Whitman unexpectedly dropped out of the race and four candidates, including Bob Franks, sought the Republican Senate nomination.
DuHaime became Franks' Deputy Campaign Manager. Franks won the Republican nomination after an intensive grass roots campaign, directed by DuHaime, that included several stunning upsets in pre-primary conventions for the endorsements of county organizations. In the general election, Franks lost narrowly to Democrat Jon Corzine
, who spent more than $70 million of his own money to win a U.S. Senate seat. A Quinnipiac University poll
released the day before the 2000 election showed Franks leading Corzine, 45%-43%.
won 88% of its races for federal, state, county and local office. His clients included Thomas H. Kean, Jr., the son of the former Governor of New Jersey, who won election to his first public office in 2001 as a candidate for the New Jersey General Assembly in a Special Election. DuHaime was also the consultant for Kean's first State Senate race two years later. Another client was Bill Baroni
, who unseated an incumbent Democratic Assemblyman in 2003, the only GOP challenger to win that year.
DuHaime served as Executive Director of the New Jersey
Republican State Committee in 2002. The state party utilized innovative GOTV tactics that resulted in increased turnout in GOP strongholds that, for the first time in years, outpaced the turnout in Democratic areas. Doug Forrester, the Republican candidate for United States Senate that year, was soundly defeated by former United States Senator Frank Lautenberg
.
's presidential campaign. However when Arizona
Senator John McCain
secured the Republican nomination, DuHaime became the senior advisor for Political Operations at the Republican National Committee
. As of July 7, DuHaime was hired as political director for Sen. John McCain's unsuccessful presidential bid.
, along with Corzine's reelection campaign manager, Maggie Moran.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
strategist and public affairs executive, is a managing director at Mercury Public Affairs, LLC,a national public affairs firm. He was the chief strategist for the successful campaign of former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie for Governor of New Jersey in 2009. Christie unseated the incumbent, Democrat Jon Corzine, by nearly 100,000 votes. He served as one of ten members of Gov. Christie's transition team and was the chairman of the authorities subcommittee.
He managed Rudy Giuliani's campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. He has served as Political Director of the Republican National Committee, as Regional Political Director of President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, and as Executive Director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
DuHaime served as Political Director of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
from January 2005 to December 2006, where he become known for his ability to effectively organize on the grassroots level. He is considered a protege of Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman
Ken Mehlman
Kenneth Brian Mehlman is an American businessman, attorney, and political figure who served as the campaign manager for the 2004 re-election campaign of George W. Bush and Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2007. In 2007, President Bush appointed Mehlman to the U.S...
, and Terry Nelson
Terry Nelson
Terry A. Nelson is a consultant and Republican strategist in the United States. He was the political director of the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign...
.
As a Regional Political Director for Bush-Cheney presidential campaign in 2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, DuHaime helped develop the national "get out the vote
Get out the vote
"Get out the vote" are terms used to describe two categories of political activity, both aimed at increasing the number of votes cast in one or more elections.- Non-partisan contexts :...
" and Election Day efforts, and directed the day-to-day campaign operations in 11 northeastern states, which yielded millions more votes for the President in the region and kept John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
tied up in his Northeastern
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
base.
Prior to working on the Bush campaign, DuHaime worked for Republicans at the local, state and federal level.
Family
DuHaime was born in 1973 and grew up in Bloomingdale, New Jersey.His father, Richard DuHaime, a conservative Republican, was a four-term Passaic County
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
Freeholder
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
and ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996. He finished second in a three-way Republican primary, only capturing 20% of the vote and losing to Rep. Richard Zimmer. In Passaic County, he won nearly 78% of the vote.
His mother, Anne DuHaime, served as the Mayor of Bloomingdale. His sister, Debbie DuHaime, is the morning traffic reporter for WABC
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
radio in New York City, and appears on the Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
program.
Michael DuHaime is married to Dore Carroll, who used to report for the Star Ledger, and has two children, Natalie and Owen.
College
DuHaime graduated from Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in 1995 with a B.A. in Journalism and Political science. He was also a four-year skater on the Rutgers Ice Hockey team where he served as a captain for championship teams his junior and senior seasons. The team played in the MCHC and did compete at the NCAA level.
Early career
DuHaime started in politics as a volunteer on his father's campaigns for Freeholder and U.S. Senate, and worked as an intern in the New Jersey State Senate Majority office in Trenton.In 1997, he became the Campaign Manager for Anthony Bucco
Anthony Bucco
Anthony R. Bucco is an American Republican Party politician who has served in the New Jersey State Senate since 1998, where he represents the 25th Legislative District.-Biography:...
, a Republican State Assemblyman from Morris County who was challenging an incumbent Democratic State Senator in New Jersey's 25th Legislative District. Bucco defeated Peter Mancuso, a former Mayor of Morris Township and a former New Jersey Republican State Committee Finance Chairman, in the Republican primary by a 56%-44% margin. In the General Election, Bucco defeated incumbent State Sen. Gordon MacInnes
Gordon MacInnes
Gordon A. MacInnes is a Democratic politician from New Jersey who has served twice in the state Legislature. MacInnes was elected to the state Assembly in 1973 in a heavily Republican Morris County district, as part of the Watergate-driven Democratic landslide of that year. He was defeated in his...
by a 55%-44% margin. Bucco won despite being heavily outspent in both races, and was the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic State Senator in New Jersey from 1991 to 2007.
As the Vice-President of Political Communications in 1998 for Campbell & Pusateri, Ltd., a national Republican consulting firm in Alexandria, Virginia, DuHaime designed paid media and mail strategies for races throughout the country, the most noteworthy of which was the open seat congressional race in Pennsylvania's 10th District, where Democrats outnumbered Republicans. DuHaime's client, businessman Don Sherwood
Don Sherwood
Donald L. "Don" Sherwood is an American politician. He served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district, from 1999 to 2007...
, assembled "a grass roots organization of 1,800 volunteers and propounding an agenda that combined small business to cut taxes" (Almanac of American Politics 2000) and won an eight-candidate field in the Republican primary with 43% of the vote. Scranton Mayor Jamse Connors finished second with 23%. In the General Election, Sherwood defeated Patrick Casey, the son of popular former Governor Robert Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
, by 515 votes, 49%-48%.
Recognized for his ability and success Campaigns & Elections Magazine named DuHaime a “Rising Star in American Politics” at the age of 24 in 1998, and he has taught seminars on political communication and grassroots campaigning to candidates and operatives in New Jersey and Washington. DuHaime has also spoken on grassroots politics at Harvard and Rutgers.
In 1999, DuHaime returned to New Jersey to work in the District Office of Rep. Bob Franks
Bob Franks
Robert Douglas "Bob" Franks was a Republican politician. He was a former U.S. Representative from New Jersey.-Biography:...
, a former Republican State Chairman who was in his fourth term in the House. He also served as Executive Director of New Jersey's New Century, a political action committee chaired by Congressman Franks.
2000 campaign
Democratic U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg was retiring after three terms and Republican Governor Christine Todd WhitmanChristine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
was running to succeed him. But in September 1999, Whitman unexpectedly dropped out of the race and four candidates, including Bob Franks, sought the Republican Senate nomination.
DuHaime became Franks' Deputy Campaign Manager. Franks won the Republican nomination after an intensive grass roots campaign, directed by DuHaime, that included several stunning upsets in pre-primary conventions for the endorsements of county organizations. In the general election, Franks lost narrowly to Democrat Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
, who spent more than $70 million of his own money to win a U.S. Senate seat. A Quinnipiac University poll
Quinnipiac University Poll
The Quinnipiac University Poll is an opinion poll research operated by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut...
released the day before the 2000 election showed Franks leading Corzine, 45%-43%.
Political consultant
DuHaime owned his own political consulting firm from 2001 to 2003. DuHaime Communications, Inc. of Hoboken, New JerseyHoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
won 88% of its races for federal, state, county and local office. His clients included Thomas H. Kean, Jr., the son of the former Governor of New Jersey, who won election to his first public office in 2001 as a candidate for the New Jersey General Assembly in a Special Election. DuHaime was also the consultant for Kean's first State Senate race two years later. Another client was Bill Baroni
Bill Baroni
William E. "Bill" Baroni, Jr. is an American Republican Party politician and law professor who was named by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in February 2010 to serve as the Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the nation’s busiest airport...
, who unseated an incumbent Democratic Assemblyman in 2003, the only GOP challenger to win that year.
DuHaime served as Executive Director of the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Republican State Committee in 2002. The state party utilized innovative GOTV tactics that resulted in increased turnout in GOP strongholds that, for the first time in years, outpaced the turnout in Democratic areas. Doug Forrester, the Republican candidate for United States Senate that year, was soundly defeated by former United States Senator Frank Lautenberg
Frank Lautenberg
Frank Raleigh Lautenberg is the senior United States Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.-Early life, career, and family:...
.
2008 Presidential Election
DuHaime was originally serving as campaign manager for Rudy GiulianiRudy Giuliani presidential campaign, 2008
Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign began following the formation of the Draft Giuliani movement in October 2005. The next year, Giuliani opened an exploratory committee and formally announced in February 2007 that he was actively seeking the presidential nomination of the Republican...
's presidential campaign. However when Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
secured the Republican nomination, DuHaime became the senior advisor for Political Operations at the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
. As of July 7, DuHaime was hired as political director for Sen. John McCain's unsuccessful presidential bid.
2009 New Jersey Governor's Race
DuHaime was the lead consultant for Republican Christopher Christie, who was elected Governor of New Jersey in 2009. Christie defeated incumbent Governor Jon S. Corzine by nearly 100,000 votes in one of the most Democratic states in the nation. Christie has named DuHaime to serve as one of ten members of his transition team. DuHaime will head the transition panel for the state's independent authorities, which includes the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.Gubernatorial Transition
DuHaime was one of ten members of Gov.-elect Chris Christie's Transition Team, and chaired the Authorities Subcommittee, which deal with the state's independent authorities and agencies.Academic career
DuHaime currently teaches a class called "Political Campaigning" at his alma mater, Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, along with Corzine's reelection campaign manager, Maggie Moran.