Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign

by Matt Stoller, Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:11:55 PM EST

Some good stuff out of Connecticut today.  Tim Tagaris, netroots wizard and ex-Marine, is joining the Lamont campaign.  Tim is a brilliant organizer, a dedicated progressive and a fantastic blogger and visionary.  To give you a little history, Tim's a netroots pioneer.  He managed the first netroots candidate, Jeff Seeman, to a surprisingly good showing.  In Pennsylvania, he caught young Republicans outside of a Santorum event on video chanting 'Hey hey, ho ho, Social Security's got to go', a major blow to the privatization scam.  Then in Ohio he built GrowOhio.org for Sherrod Brown before providing the crucial link between the Ohio blogs and the national blogosphere that led to Hackett's fantastic rise during the Ohio 2nd race against Jean Schmidt.   And since then, he has been instrumental at the DNC as their blogger.

Now Tim's going to Connecticut to participate in the first truly post-broadcast campaign, to join Lamont.  This is a tough race.  The primary takes place in mid-August, when the voting population is less likely to turn out.  There's a white hot anger in the state at Lieberman, and new blogging communities working overtime to get rid of him.  But Lieberman has $5 million in the bank, and high name recognition.  It's Tim's job to bring the energy online and among activists and to crystallize that into turnout and messaging.  He's done it before.

The key to a great campaign isn't poll numbers or a willingness to try new things, it's the ability to attract great people through shared values.  Tim is someone that people want to be around.  He's a natural leader, a natural organizer.  And he's going to Connecticut to put his values on the line, to topple a giant of corrupted insider politics.  I'm very excited about this.  Everything I've seen from the Lamont campaign is dead-on; Lamont keeps making the right moves.  With this one, Connecticut just got a whole lot more interesting.




Tags: Tim Tagaris, Ned Lamont (all tags)

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Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (3.00 / 1)

with low turnout in August, perhaps only the fired-up voters will vote which means a problem for Joe.  OTOH, Joe's got the money to get those people who support him to the polls.  Demographically, aren't most of Lieberman's supporter more likely to be affluent, which means they are more likely than Lamont's voters to be on vacation in Nantucket and the Vineyard?


The only balls the Clintons ever show are against their fellow Democrats, especially progressives.
by jgarcia on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:16:25 PM EST

Lamont's Window Is Closing (none / 0)

Ned Lamont needs to get on the air SOON -- or his window of opportunity will be lost.

More Important -- he needs to dump a whole bunch of his own money into the race, because there is no way the netroots ATM can do what needs to be done.

Ned Lamont has hired the best off-beat media consultant available -- but political ads are like bullets; they are useless unless you fire them.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/4/27/1539 12/677

Bill Hillsman produced the ads the propelled John Hickenlooper into the Mayor's office in Denver -- if it is possible, post Suit and Change online, so everyone can see them. They were brilliant; but so is Hick, and he was running for an open seat.

Long story short -- Ned Lamont needs to start closing the gap NOW, or he will lose the opportunity.  


by ck on Wed May 03, 2006 at 01:49:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Wonder what the DNC thinks of this. (none / 0)

He is the main blogger at www.democrats.org


by Demrock6 on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:20:27 PM EST

Re: Wonder what the DNC thinks of this. (none / 0)

That would be "was".  


by jsw on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:25:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wonder what the DNC thinks of this. (3.00 / 0)

well, "is" for the next few days at least.  This is a good opportunity to introduce all of you to one of the new bloggers coming on, Tracy Russo.  You might remember some of her work with Ciro's campaign earlier this year.  In fact, the Internet team is expanding quite a bit over here and has a new Director, Josh McConaha.  Exciting times.

Tim


by Tim Tagaris on Tue May 02, 2006 at 05:09:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wonder what the DNC thinks of this. (none / 0)

Good news Tim and Tracy Joan....great work on both earlier jobs and

Tim: Lamont's going to need the best and you got the job just in time!


just a red meat eatin' Democratic Dawg frontpaging at The Democratic Daily...
by BigDog on Tue May 02, 2006 at 06:25:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wonder what the DNC thinks of this. (none / 0)

Welcome aboard,

If you could see my inbox right now you'd be one happy guy.The entire netroots just let out one hell of a cheer.There are an amazing bunch of people with an even more amazing array of talents who just breathed a huge sigh of relief hearing your coming to Ct.

If I can be of any help just ask.


by ctkeith on Tue May 02, 2006 at 06:27:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wonder what the DNC thinks of this. (none / 0)

Oh I'll be in touch, and before I hit the ground next week.  I simply cannot wait.

I have a bunch of introductions to make ... the work you guys have done out there has been inspirational, and I can't wait to meet all of you.  So inspirational that I couldn't even sit idly by on the sidelines as early as 2 months ago -- check out joelieberman.org -- that was my gift to the campaign.  I couldn't help myself.

We just gotta figure out the elusive equation that translates online enthusiasm into an organized chaos of offline action.  If we can do that, we can make some history on August 8th.

Can't wait!

Tim


by Tim Tagaris on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:33:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wonder what the DNC thinks of this. (none / 0)

Well, "was" in the sense that it wasn't a double game of some kind.


by jsw on Tue May 02, 2006 at 07:47:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

It seems Tagaris has gained a lot of experience since being Seemann's campaign manager, but I'd dispute you calling Jeff Seeman's showing in 2004 "surprisingly good," given that Regula got nearly twice as many votes (202,544) as Seemann (101,817).  Although that was a better showing than the 2002 candidate (129,734-58,644), it was still much, much worse than John Kerry (Bush won the district 171,561-146,066)


by bobdoleisevil on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:37:57 PM EST

Seemann was a con man.... (none / 0)

But what was surprisingly good was the fact that the college drop-out/ex-DJ was able to raise 160K via the internet, despite his ridiculous resume, and with no real chance of winning.

Tim ranks at the top of the list in terms of internet communications. We are glad he is coming to CT.


Clinton Democrats care about the same things I do, most importantly beating John McCain.
by TrueBlueCT on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:40:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Seemann was a con man.... (none / 0)

Actually, Seemann raised 76K, or at least, that's what he's told the FEC about.  He still has yet to file his final disclosures from the 2004 race, and has received significant fines from the FEC.

(None of which is meant to impinge on Tim at all; he wasn't the treasurer.)


by Adam B on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:51:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Seemann was a con man.... (none / 0)

Well...

I don't really know what to say about Jeff, but it ended up being closer to 150k than anything else -- although I don't even know the final figure.  I have talked to him countless times about filing that last report, but obviously he hasn't.

I was the Comm. Director for the campaign, but that was kind of funny because 3 months before I moved to Canton I was working at a bar in Carbondale, Illinois (Southern Illinois University).

Tim


by Tim Tagaris on Tue May 02, 2006 at 05:10:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Seemann was a con man.... (none / 0)

good luck tim!  it's gonna be a nasty summer up there in CT.


--
Albert Yee
Philadelphia, PA
http://dragonballyee.com/blog
by Albert on Tue May 02, 2006 at 05:25:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Seemann was a con man.... (none / 0)

I have a feeling my work in PA will serve me well while in Connecticut.

Tim


by Tim Tagaris on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:34:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Seemann was a con man.... (none / 0)

Again, I don't blame you for that, but I do think that it was a lesson for the netroots in terms of assessing credibility and viability of campaigns.

Thank goodness, you're finally with a campaign that can afford to pay you.


by Adam B on Tue May 02, 2006 at 06:08:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Tim wasn't the "campaign manager" in that race.
by Chris Bowers on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:42:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Matt,how exciting!  I am one of the Lamont volunteers who will be collecting signatures for his Petition drive!  I also volunteer in the Norwalk, CT Lamont office and have help send out hundreds of thank you letters to Lamont's grass root contributors.  I know you say that poll numbers shouldn't matter, but I just watched Wolf Blizter on CNN salivating over the recent Quinnipiac poll stating that Lieberman hasn't suffered any affects from Lamont's campaign and that he has a 46% lead on Lamont.  So I hope Tim Tagaris can make some headway as far as the media goes because I'm sure Lieberman's campaign had a lot to do with Wolf Blitzer's attention to this poll.


by HWS on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:48:00 PM EST

Q-Poll is biased... (none / 0)

They describe Ned not as Democratic challenger Ned Lamont, but as "businessman Ned Lamont."

An obvious conclusion for many people would be to presume he was a Republican.

fwiw.


Clinton Democrats care about the same things I do, most importantly beating John McCain.
by TrueBlueCT on Tue May 02, 2006 at 07:53:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Why did Tim leave the DNC?

Seems like the DNC's loss.  We need talented bloggers in our ranks.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:53:45 PM EST

Dude (none / 0)

It takes Tagaris about as long to take on a new job as it takes Bono to take on a new cause.

Props to both of them. It must be nice to be in demand.


Melissa Hart is gone - thank you Chris Bowers
by surfbird007 on Tue May 02, 2006 at 04:53:47 PM EST

Re: Dude (none / 0)

Damn-comapring Tim to Bono. that is about as high priase as I can think of.
by Chris Bowers on Tue May 02, 2006 at 05:07:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dude (none / 0)

Or about as long as it takes to get Britney Spears pregnant!

kidding kidding!


by KainIIIC on Tue May 02, 2006 at 05:26:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dude (none / 0)

Ba-dump bump. (rimshot)


Witty comment goes here...
by michael in chicago on Tue May 02, 2006 at 06:21:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Tim

I'm a Lamont voulnteer in Westport.  This is great news and we're looking forward to meeting you!


by Joe Scordato on Tue May 02, 2006 at 05:50:43 PM EST

Very Exciting news for CT and the DNC. (none / 0)

I'm a big fan of both Tim and Tracy.  

This is very, very good development on both platforms.

Congrats to both of you.


Before you win, you have to fight. Come fight along with us at TexasKaos.
by boadicea on Tue May 02, 2006 at 06:01:05 PM EST

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Tim they sure are going to miss you over at the DNC.  That aside, I am glad to see you heading up to CT.  I can't wait to see what you bring to that race.  I should be fun, insightful and innovative.


by juls on Tue May 02, 2006 at 06:05:33 PM EST

Boy, oh boy (none / 0)

That Tim guy sure can't hold down a job! ;-)

Good luck to him! He's a real stand up guy that I'm glad is on our side.


Witty comment goes here...
by michael in chicago on Tue May 02, 2006 at 06:19:55 PM EST

Re: Boy, oh boy (none / 0)

I know!  I'm beginning to think I don't have a home any longer.  It's an affliction of mine that earned an old girlfriend from Philly the prefix "ex" in the term ex-girlfriend.

Tim


by Tim Tagaris on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:37:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (3.00 / 1)

This is fantastic news. Of course, props also to Tim for his great work on the Swing State Project.


by DavidNYC on Tue May 02, 2006 at 07:20:11 PM EST

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Why not provide a link to your website?  


by illinois062006 on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:22:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Are you running SSP?  I had always thought it was that Bob Brigham dude?


The only balls the Clintons ever show are against their fellow Democrats, especially progressives.
by jgarcia on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:33:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

ha! Brigham and I haven't posted there since November.  But I will say, the quality of content has risen by leaps and bounds since our departure.

Tim


by Tim Tagaris on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:38:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

LOL!!!


The only balls the Clintons ever show are against their fellow Democrats, especially progressives.
by jgarcia on Tue May 02, 2006 at 10:59:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

R O T F L M A O R H ! ! !


by illinois062006 on Wed May 03, 2006 at 03:09:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Good luck Tim.

My only expectation is that Lamont run a credible campaign and I believe he is putting a good team together.

Of course I hope he wins but even a serious challenge and a close race will be a win.


by ab initio on Tue May 02, 2006 at 07:36:23 PM EST

Congrats, Tim! (none / 0)

Great job.  When I saw that you were leaving Kicking Ass, and I also saw a post here a couple days earlier about something neat happening at the Lamont campaign that we would all like, I had a sneaking suspicion I knew what was going on.  Turns out I was right :).  The Lamont campaign became stronger today, and I'm sure Tracy will do a great job with the DNC blog.


Rudy Giuliani hates firefighters. And puppies.
by Fran for Dean on Tue May 02, 2006 at 07:36:27 PM EST

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Congrats Tim.  Just wish you were coming back to Ohio, Sherrod could use the help.


by Demo Dan in Dayton on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:30:06 PM EST

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (3.00 / 2)

Bad news for Lieberman.
Bob Brigham Blog
by Bob Brigham on Tue May 02, 2006 at 09:32:58 PM EST

Best of luck, Tim. (none / 0)

Lamont's gain is the DNC's loss.

One day, we'll get you out here in Colorado. ;)


Unbossed and Colorado Confidential--pursuing truth over balance.
by em dash on Wed May 03, 2006 at 04:01:03 PM EST

Re: Tim Tagaris Joins the Lamont Campaign (none / 0)

Hi Tim,    we shall miss you at DNC, but I am very excited at you coming to CT and the Lamont campaign.        

I hope to get to Glastonbury meeting tonight, where Ned will be speaking.    
Can't wait to meet you in person.


by Bergs on Wed May 03, 2006 at 04:01:52 PM EST


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