Skip to content

Shop Talk: The Veep-Stakes Are High

Brendan Buck is taking a leave of absence as press secretary for Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to join Mitt Romney’s campaign as a Boston-based spokesman.

Buck’s focus will include the forthcoming rollout of the presumptive GOP nominee’s running mate. He will report to Kevin Sheridan, communications director for the eventual vice presidential candidate, and national press secretary Andrea Saul.

The campaign also added Dan Ronayne as a communications consultant for special projects through Election Day. Ronayne is a veteran of the Republican National Committee, President George W. Bush’s re-election campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Expanding Spectrum

Eugene Swanzey and Dennis Rasmussen have joined political and public affairs firm Total Spectrum as partners, managing partner Steve Gordon announced.

Total Spectrum designs and executes strategic advocacy, political and communications programs for corporations, associations and issue advocacy campaigns.

“We designed Total Spectrum to provide a wide range of public affairs strategies and techniques, and I am grateful for the strong response we have received,” Gordon said in a statement. He added that they “bring extensive experience and great expertise to our expanding client base.”

Rasmussen is a former Maryland state Senator. Since leaving public office, he has been involved in business development and lobbying. Swanzey spent 25 years at the Chase Manhattan Banking Corp., including as senior vice president and director of government affairs.

What the Zell

The grandson of former Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) is managing the campaign of a Republican House candidate in Georgia.

Bryan Miller is running the campaign of Doug Collins, who advanced beyond Tuesday’s primary to a GOP runoff in the 9th district. He’ll face Martha Zoller, who’s been backed by a bevy of national conservatives, including former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

The winner of the Aug. 21 contest in this safe Republican district will be coming to Congress next year.

Soup for You

Resolute Consulting has opened an office in Phoenix and hired Arizona House Minority Leader Chad Campbell (D) as vice president to manage operations there.

A former engineering project manager, Campbell was most recently an independent consultant for community relations and development of nonprofits and businesses in Arizona.

Resolute, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm, is based in Chicago with offices also in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Young at Heart

The Young Democrats of America appointed former Rep. Patrick Murphy
(D-Pa.) to the group’s Stakeholders Board as it seeks to build a coalition of young voters and activists.

Murphy, 38, was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress and quickly became a lead spokesman for Democrats on withdrawing troops from Iraq. He also advocated ending the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Murphy was defeated for re-election in 2010, then lost in the Democratic primary this year for state attorney general.

“Patrick will play a crucial role in our effort to strengthen the YDA and ensure that President [Barack] Obama holds the White House thanks to millions of young voters across the country,” YDA Executive Director Emily Tisch Sussman said in a statement.

Submit campaign staffing news and tips to Shop Talk here.

Recent Stories

‘Two weeks’: GOP hawks left twisting on Iran after Trump resorts to familiar crutch

Supreme Court allows civil lawsuits against Palestinian groups

Appeals court backs Trump control of National Guard in LA, for now

Photos of the week | June 13-19, 2025

American businesses need a stable and competitive tax rate

Fact-checking Trump, Gabbard comments on Iran nuclear capability