Robert M. "Bob" Shrum (born 1943) is an American
political consultant, who has worked on numerous
Democratic campaigns. Although he has been part of many non-presidential Democratic campaign victories, he has never advised a winning presidential campaign.
Education
Shrum was born in
Connellsville,
Pennsylvania and raised in
Los Angeles. He is a graduate of
Loyola High School of Los Angeles and
Georgetown University (where he was named the outstanding debater at the 1965 national
policy debate championship, the
NDT). After Georgetown, he went to
Harvard Law School.
Political career
Speechwriter
Shrum began his political career as a
speechwriter, first for
New York City Mayor
John Lindsay, and then for
Edmund Muskie. He later worked for
George McGovern, and spent nine days on
Jimmy Carter's 1976 campaign.
Shrum later worked for Ted Kennedy and wrote the famous speech Kennedy gave at the 1980 Democratic National Convention.
Political consultant
Presidential races
In 1986, Shrum began work as a political consultant, designing campaign advertising and message strategy for Democratic candidates at the presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial levels. He worked for the
Dick Gephardt campaign during the 1988 Democratic primaries, including Gephardt's surprise victory in the Iowa caucus, but after Gephardt's defeat, Shrum helped Democratic nominee
Michael Dukakis in preparing for his debates against Vice President George Bush. Dukakis lost the
general election.
In 1992, Shrum worked for Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey, who was defeated for the nomination by Bill Clinton.
In 2000, Shrum helped Al Gore beat back a primary challenge from former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, and win the Democratic nomination. Gore would win the popular vote in the November general election versus George W. Bush, only to lose the electoral vote.
In 2004, Shrum worked on John Kerry's campaign, guiding him to a victory in the crucial Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, and soon after, the Democratic presidential nomination, only for Kerry to be defeated in the general election by George W. Bush.
Critics often point out a "curse" associated with the presidential campaigns that Shrum has worked on, since he has yet to claim victory for any of his candidates in eight presidential elections.
Non-Presidential races
Since 1985, Shrum has conceived and produced advertising (TV, radio, print) for twenty-six winning
U.S. Senate campaigns; eight winning campaigns for Governor; the Mayors of
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, Dade County and San Francisco, and the Democratic Leader of the
United States House of Representatives. Those winning Senate campaigns include those of
Alan Cranston in 1986 and
John Edwards in 1998, as well as victories for
Barbara Mikulski,
Jack Reed,
Tom Harkin,
Jon Corzine,
Harris Wofford, and many others.
In 1994, the year of the "Gingrich revolution," Shrum worked on behalf of two of the few bright spots in a tough year for the Democrats: Chuck Robb's victory over Oliver North in Virginia, and Ted Kennedy beating back a challenge from Mitt Romney. Shrum has also worked for Ehud Barak of Israel and the British Labour Party.
Journalism
Shrum is a regular columnist for
The Week magazine's website along with his conservative counterpart,
David Frum. As a journalist, Shrum’s work appeared in
New York Magazine,
The Los Angeles Times,
The New York Times, and
The New Republic, among other publications.
He was a columnist for the on-line magazine Slate.
Academic career
Shrum is currently a Senior Fellow at
New York University's
Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where he teaches a class on domestic policy formation and analysis. He also teaches an undergraduate seminar to freshmen on Presidential debates and speeches since the 1960s.
Memoir
Shrum has written a political memoir entitled
No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner, published in June 2007. It has received attention in the media for its less than flattering portrayal of Shrum's former client,
John Edwards.
Personal life
Shrum is married to Marylouise Oates, a writer and former columnist for
The Los Angeles Times. He has one stepson, the television writer Michael Oates Palmer.
References
External links
Loss Leader
"The Man Behind the Curtain:Political Strategy and Spin", Janet Maslin, New York Times, June 4, 2007
Category:1943 births
Category:Living people
Category:American campaign managers
Category:American columnists
Category:American journalists
Category:American memoirists
Category:American political consultants
Category:American political writers
Category:Georgetown University alumni
Category:Harvard Law School alumni
Category:People from Los Angeles, California
Category:People from Fayette County, Pennsylvania
