Dina Titus hires experienced team to win Congressional District 3 race

Sen. Dina Titus, who is running neck-and-neck in a race with Jon Porter in Congressional District 3, has hired an impressive team with decades of experience to run her campaign.

Titus hired Jay Gertsema, a longtime political operative, to run the race as campaign manager.  He will work with a well respected team of consultants including Anzalone-Liszt Research, Struble Eichenbaum Communications, Ambrosino, Muir & Hansen and Proof Interactive.

"This is one of the best and most experienced political teams Nevada has ever seen," Titus said. "Recent polling proves that residents of CD 3 don't want a representative who sides with special interests and then scrambles for his political life when the dynamics in his district change. It's time for the residents of CD 3 to fight back against special interests and fight for Nevada's interests. I intend to do that, and this is the best team to help me get that message out."

A poll published in Saturday's Las Vegas Review-Journal found that Titus and Porter are deadlocked in the district and Porter has the lowest approval ratings among the Nevada Congressional Delegation, with just 36 percent of voters giving him an excellent or good rating [http://www.lvrj.com/news/19939774.html].

A previous national poll also put Porter in Tier 1 of vulnerable Congressional incumbents around the nation: http://www.lvrj.com/news/19654114.html.  

Biographies of the Titus campaign team:

Manager: Jay Gertsema
Jay Gertsema is one of the most seasoned political operatives managing congressional races this cycle with more than 20 years in campaign and field experience.  He's been involved in presidential campaigns since 1984 and most recently served as a regional field director for Hillary Clinton in Iowa.  Gertsema has worked with the AFL-CIO and with SEIU.  He also managed the 2006 Idaho Democratic gubernatorial campaign.
 
Pollster: Anzalone-Liszt Research
In 2006, Anzalone-Liszt Research beat more incumbent Republicans (five) than any other polling firm in the nation, and the Washington Post recently called the Anzalone Liszt Research one of the "hottest in the nation after the 2006 cycle" and John Anzalone "the best pollster you've never heard of." Anzalone was the pollster for two 2008 special election victories for Democrats in the South, Don Cazayoux (LA-06) and Travis Childers (MS-01). Anzalone started his own polling firm in 1994 and has offices in Washington, DC and Montgomery, AL. The firm now represents a U.S. Senator, fourteen U.S. Congressmen and dozens of other statewide and local elected officials in over twenty states.
 
Media: Struble Eichenbaum Communications
Karl Struble and David Eichenbaum have an unmatched record of winning in red states. Since 2004, the firm has helped elect 5 Democratic governors in red states - Chet Culver (IA), Mike Beebe (AR), Tim Kaine (VA), Joe Manchin (WV), and Brian Schweitzer (MT). In 2006, they unseated 24-year Republican Congresswoman Nancy Johnson (R-CT). The firm is also known for helping to elect women such as Maria Cantwell (WA), Patty Murray (WA), Mary Landrieu (LA) and Debbie Stabenow (MI). Nobody has helped elect as many women to the United States Senate as Struble Eichenbaum Communications.
 
Mail: Ambrosino, Muir & Hansen
For 17 years, Ambrosino, Muir & Hansen has created powerful, individualized, image-driven mail in the highest profile, toughest races in the country, with an unmatched record of success -- 20 Democratic U.S. Senators, 12 Democratic Governors and more than 20 Members of the U.S. House.  We don't have "account executives." No 23-year-old copy writers. Just three firm partners with a combined 50 years of campaign management and creative communication experience.
 
Web: Proof Interactive
Proof Interactive is the most accomplished online marketing firm in Nevada Democratic politics, bringing the most advanced technical support and having developed successful campaigns on behalf of Senator Harry Reid, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, the Nevada Democratic Party and many others. Proof's principal, Dan Geary, is a seasoned Democratic operative and has a winning track record in online organizing, fundraising and communications.

Additionally, Annette Magnus and Michael Naft will return to the Titus team. Both worked on her gubernatorial race. Magnus, a former public affairs coordinator with Planned Parenthood, will act as scheduler. Naft, who is a former development manager with the Nevada Conservation League, will act as finance manager.