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Goddard to Start Own Public Affairs Firm

Ben Goddard, the brains behind the “Harry and Louise” ads that brought down the Clinton health care plan in 1993, will announce today that he’s starting a new public affairs firm.

Goddard and Rick Claussen have created GC Strategic Advocacy. The firm will have offices in Washington and Sacramento, Calif., with Goddard based in D.C. and Claussen in California.

The duo founded the famed advertising firm Goddard Claussen in 1990 and sold it to Porter Novelli in 1999. Goddard and Claussen have been working with the public relations giant since then but have now decided to strike out on their own.

“We are returning to our roots as a boutique shop focused on strategic public advocacy consulting and management of advocacy advertising and ballot initiative campaigns,” said Goddard.

Goddard’s days in politics date to his time cutting ads for a slew of Democrats, ranging from former President Jimmy Carter to ex-Sen. Gary Hart (Colo.) and the late Rep. Mo Udall (Ariz.).

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