David Axelrod and his mission to put blacks in office.

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Leaving journalism in 1984, Axelrod managed Paul Simon’s upset victory over incumbent U.S. Senator Charles Percy in Illinois. Since then, he has worked for leading Democrats across the country, including Senator Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in New York, Governor Tom Vilsack in Iowa and Congressman Rahm Emanuel in Illinois. A specialist in urban politics, Axelrod has produced victories for mayoral candidates in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit and Washington, D.C.

n 2006, Axelrod oversaw the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s independent expenditure media program, helping Democrats regain the House Majority for the first time since 1994. That same year, Axelrod served as media advisor to Deval Patrick, former head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, who was elected Massachusetts’ first Democratic governor in 16 years, and the first ever African American governor of the state.



Issues Research:
Any effective campaign begins with solid, thorough research. AKP&D begins by researching the public record and newspaper coverage to evaluate potential areas of opportunity and vulnerability, as well as the political environment in which a campaign will be conducted. We also review research on opposition arguments, and the sponsors of those campaigns. This enables us to develop the most effective case while guarding against likely attacks.

Survey Analysis:
AKP&D works closely with the campaign’s pollster to explore the political and issue environment, and the test positive and negative arguments that might come into play. Such research is crucial to crafting an effective message from the very start of the campaign.

Targeting:
Another important, early mission is the careful review of past voter performance. This analysis can yield important information about where supportive votes might be found, and how persuadable voters can best be targeted. AKP&D works closely with campaign pollsters and staff in both developing these targets and determining how to reach them most efficiently and effectively.



Speeches:
Once the preliminary research and planning is done, our job is to help a campaign define its message. We have written speeches for many clients -- including former President Bill Clinton -- and apply our experience in developing winning themes. We work with spokespersons for campaigns in crafting speeches, as well as developing techniques and strategies for generating -- and capitalizing on -- media interviews.

Earned media:
We help campaigns develop strategies to maximize positive exposure in the news media, identifying individuals and venues likely to yield the best results. We are in daily contact with campaign press secretary and communications directors, to take advantage of free press opportunities and avoid potential media pitfalls.

David Axelrod is the former political editor of the Chicago Tribune. John Kupper spent almost a decade as communications director for Members of Congress. John Del Cecato served as national spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and communications director for campaigns across the country. We understand this side of campaigns better than any firm in the business.

Print:
While we principally produce television and radio commercials, we have also generated the highest-quality direct mail and print advertising for both political and corporate clients.

Debate preparation:
To win a debate requires the thorough knowledge of one’s core message, the ability to anticipate every question asked, and the tactics needed to turn attacks to one’s advantage. We have prepared dozens of clients for make-or-break debates and joint appearances, with a goal of capturing broadcast and newspaper coverage that advances the campaign message.

Television and radio:
Our bread and butter is the production of top-flight TV and radio ads. AKP&D has won a number of national awards, and a great deal of notice, for the distinctive quality of our work. More important, we have won many races because we understand that winning requires more than creative media. It requires the right message.

Every spot on our reel -- every spot we have ever produced -- can be understood in the context of strategy. We are message consultants, not merely producers of media, and therein lies an important distinction:

Our spots not only look good. They work.

Expert media-buying:
Even effective spots may not produce results if a campaign doesn’t have the right media schedule. If a campaign is targeting one demographic group, and its media is being purchased on programming that doesn’t reach that audience, it is wasting valuable resources.

AKP&D has a first-rate in-house media-buying operation, with years of experience placing media, to expertly advance each campaign’s political and communications strategy. This enables a campaign to get more message bang for its buck.