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Congressman Lynn Westmoreland
Former Georgia House Minority Leader Lynn Westmoreland’s campaign and his consultant, Chip Lake, determined that their campaign theme should emphasize Westmoreland’s record of independent leadership, so they came up with “The Courage to Lead.”
By directing attention to Westmoreland’s history of leadership, it allowed the campaign to contrast Westmoreland’s record with that of his opponent, Dylan Glenn. While national Republican leaders were working to shore up Glenn’s candidacy on cable news and in print media, Westmoreland focused on solidifying his base in his two strongest counties, and raising his positives in the areas of the district in which he was less well known.
By wedding his existing positive mail campaign to a blistering contrast mail effort, which called Glenn out for his lack of knowledge of the district and his seeming opportunism, Westmoreland was able to secure a substantial victory on primary election night, earning a margin of victory that was relatively unexpected.
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Consultant:
Chip Lake
Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group
Media:
Sonny Scott, Anthem Media
Polling:
Glen Bolger, POS |
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Consultant:
Chip Lake
Direct Mail & Internet:
Stoneridge Group
Media:
Sonny Scott, Anthem Media
Polling:
Glen Bolger, POS |
Congressman Tom Price
Stoneridge Group, along with Consultants Chip Lake and Media Consultant Sonny Scott drafted a dynamic print and web campaign for Tom Price, which involved 2 different direct mail campaigns, and an internet campaign with an innovative weblog designed to work in tandem with Price’s media plan.
The Price team decided upon the theme, “Voice for Freedom”, which articulated Price’s vision for limited government, lower taxes, and a strong military. The first direct mail and internet program allowed Price to share his views on illegal immigration, medical malpractice reform, and national security. The second direct mail program focused on targeting voters regionally, as the congressional district ecompassed three similar, but very distinct counties, of which Price was only familiar to voters in one.
Price surprised pundits by coming in first in the 4 way primary even though he came from one of the smallest regions. However, he did not cross the 50% threshold, which meant that he would face second place finisher Robert LaMutt in a primary runoff three weeks later.
On election night, Price shocked the establishment media again by handily defeating LaMutt, overcoming popular opinion which believed that Price would lose a battle of counties, as LaMutt was from the largest, most populous and politically active regions.
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Consultant:
Chip Lake
Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group
Media:
Sonny Scott, Anthem Media
Polling:
Brian Tringali, Tarrance Group
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Congressman Phil Gingrey
Dr. Phil Gingrey was involved in a brutal 3 way Republican primary during his first race for Congress in 2002. With the help of his outstanding campaign team and the Stoneridge Group, Gingrey pulled off a dramatic primary victory, and went on to face wealthy businessman, Democrat Roger Kahn in the general election. Named one of the top targeted races by both parties, the general election promptly became the 2002 cycle’s most expensive congressional race.
Using creative direct mail (which would later earn Stoneridge a Pollie award) and an innovative media plan, Gingrey beat back massive Democrat spending and his wealthy opponent to become the 11th district’s new Congressman.
During his first reelection campaign in 2004, Congressman Gingrey’s challenger, Democrat Rick Crawford, tried to make the case that Gingrey was a “do nothing” congressman, and someone unwilling to diverge from the Bush party line (the latter a powerful charge in a district that leaned Kerry).
Gingrey’s team emphasized that he was the only House freshman to pass a major piece of legislation (the Ready to Teach Act), he played a lead role in developing and passing the Medicare Prescription Drug legislation (Gingrey is a medical doctor), and that he was leading the fight for Medical Malpractice reform – a very powerful issue in Georgia, and specifically to women and seniors, as the state has seen thousands of doctors retire or move to another state to practice.
Gingrey would go on to win a second term.
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Consultant:
Joel McElhannon, South Public Affairs
Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group
Internet:
Stoneridge Group
Polling:
John Mclaughin |
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle
Stoneridge had a long-standing relationship with Cagle, so we set out to produce our very best work in order to help put Casey over the top. The team knew Reed would have tremendous resources and a strong ground game, so it was imperative that the work we did for Cagle always had to be better than Reed’s materials.
The Stoneridge Group designed a logo, collateral materials, multiple websites, and voter contact mail for the Cagle campaign.
Stoneridge created Caseycagle.com, ralphreedsgreatesthits.com, readaboutreed.com, and dontgambleonralph.com. And we designed and distributed other elements of Cagle’s eCampaign: Race News email updates and Action Alerts. And we created “The Caution Flag” emails to notify the press and our supporters when Reed made a baseless accusation.
Stoneridge first produced a number of Cagle biographical mail pieces and then followed up those initial mailings with multiple issue pieces targeted to social conservatives. The final round of mailings included contrast pieces designed to remind voters of Reed’s advocacy of casinos and his work with convicted felon Jack Abramoff.
The combination of an outstanding, tireless candidate, and the work of the entire Cagle team proved to be too much for Reed to overcome, as Cagle stormed to a tremendous election night victory — 56%-44%.
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Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group
Internet:
Stoneridge Group |
Senator Saxby Chambliss
In 2002, Republican Congressman Saxby Chambliss faced a difficult decision: Run for re-election in a safe congressional district or face incumbent Democrat Senator Max Cleland in an uphill battle that many Republicans believed to be an impossible challenge.
After entering the race, the Chambliss campaign promptly enlisted the services of the Stoneridge Group to create an online campaign and Internet effort unlike anything seen before in Georgia politics. Up until that point, most campaigns created websites that were fairly simple and rarely utilized cutting-edge technology.
However, thanks to the work of the forward thinking staff at Stoneridge, Chambliss launched a website that was named one of the Top 5 U.S. Senate websites in the nation by Campaigns & Elections magazine, and he was able to raise over $70,000 via his website and e-campaign in 6 months–an amount unprecedented in Georgia political campaigns.
In addition to their web work for the Chambliss campaign, the Stoneridge Group assisted with targeted direct mail efforts to conservative Republicans in a competitive primary race against the Georgia General Assembly's Republican leader. Chambliss went on to win the primary handily, and then the tough general election against Cleland.
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Consultant:
Clint Austin, Connect South
Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group
Internet:
Stoneridge Group |
Mayor Deke Copenhaver
Augusta’s non-partisan mayoral campaign began as a four person race in a racially-polarized environment. Candidate Deke Copenhaver was deeply committed to change in government and had taken up the mantle, “Refreshing Change for Augusta.” Though Deke was young (36), he had extensive local connections from his work with The Savannah River Land Trust, a conservation group. He was also on boards of many local groups, including black-white partnerships aimed at bridging the racial divide in Augusta.
The Stoneridge Group – in cooperation with Copenhaver’s political consultant, Clint Austin of ConnectSouth – produced a series of direct mail pieces designed to educate voters about Copenhaver’s plan to address the problems facing Augusta. Stoneridge also produced a soft comparison piece that laid out a series of facts that called into question each of the three other candidates’ credibility on the issues.
Copenhaver made the runoff, finishing in 2nd place by less than 1,000 votes over the 3rd place finisher.
During the runoff campaign, Stoneridge and Austin targeted Copenhaver’s opponent – the incumbent mayor – with direct mail detailing his failings and incompetence during his service as City Commissioner.
Copenhaver’s runoff victory proved to be surprisingly easy, as he outdistanced his opponent, 56%-44%. Copenhaver’s victory served as both a mandate for his campaign of change and a crushing repudiation of race-based politics.
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Consultant:
Joel McElhannon, South Public Affairs
Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group |
State Senator Judson Hill
Judson Hill planned to run a primary challenge against a moderate Republican who had made a habit of siding with the Democrats. However, thanks to the efforts of a judicial panel charged with redrawing legislative districts, Hill eventually found himself in a race with, among others, local State Representative and former State Superintendent of Education candidate, Mitchell Kaye.
Hill had the sort of resume consultants and direct mail vendors dream of. A handsome family man, former Reagan administration official, and active in his community, Hill presented his consultant, Joel McElhannon, and the Stoneridge Group with a broad canvas with which to work.
Hill finished second to Kaye in the primary. During the runoff, Hill made concerted efforts to convince the other primary opponents and much of the party establishment to rally around his candidacy. Due to the excitement surrounding Hill’s campaign, and some lingering concern regarding some of Kaye’s legislative miscues (not the least of which was his legislation to allow guns in schools), securing endorsements didn’t prove to be a difficult undertaking.
Hill easily defeated Kaye in the runoff, and later coasted to a general election victory, defeating Democrat Akhtar Sadiq 74%-26%.
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Consultant:
Joel McElhannon, South Public Affairs
Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group |
State Senator Bille Heath
After taking out the country’s longest-serving state Speaker of the House, your next campaign should seem easy, right? Not necessarily.
Two years after Joel McElhannon and the Stoneridge Group helped him knock off Democrat Tom Murphy, Georgia’s House Speaker for the last 44 years, Bill Heath faced another tough campaign.
This time, the challenge came from another Republican, Mason Rountree.
By hitting Rountree on his support from trial lawyers and his somewhat questionable public statements regarding various pro-family issues, Heath was able to hurt Rountree with the business community and with the so-called “virtues voters.”
In the end, Heath’s message of leadership, protecting traditional values, and creating a more accountable state government won the day, as he defeated Rountree 51% to 49%.
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State Senator Johnny Grant
Tired of watching his district hemorrhage jobs, and fearful of his hometown becoming Atlanta’s landfill, community leader and small business owner Johnny Grant decided voters needed a fresh start. So he announced he would challenge incumbent Democrat Faye Smith, and give the voters the option of reform.
The Stoneridge Group and Firehouse Consulting helped Grant develop a direct mail campaign which would drill Smith on the community’s dwindling job market and on the garbage dumping issue. At the same time, the mail plan would reintroduce Grant to voters, and reinforce his reputation as a successful businessman, and as someone with fresh ideas who cares a great deal for his community.
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Consultant:
Firehouse Consulting
Direct Mail:
Stoneridge Group |
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GA Gov Sonny Perdue*
GA Lt. Gov Casey Cagle
U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA)
Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (GA)
Congressman Charlie Norwood (GA)
Congressman Phil Gingrey (GA)
Congressman Nathan Deal (GA)
Congressman Tom Price (GA)
Congressman Bob Barr (GA)
Congressman John Linder (GA) (O)
Congressman John Kline (MN) (O)
Congressman Lee Terry (NE) (O)
Congressman Max Burns (GA)
Congressman Tom Reynolds (NY)*
Ed Bryant for U.S. Senate (TN)*
Mike Bouchard for U.S. Senate (MI)*
Richard Roberts for Congress (TN)
Calder Clay for Congress (GA)*
Clay Cox for Congress (GA)
Mike Wiggins for Supreme Court (GA)*
Brian Kemp for Agriculture Commissioner (GA)
Bill Stephens for Sect of State (GA)
Randy Johnson for CFO (FL)*
Steve Stancil for Lt. Governor (GA)
Shannon Goessling for Attorney General (GA)*
Judge Deborah Bernes/State Court of Appeals (GA)
Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (GA)
Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams (GA)
House Speaker Glenn Richardson (GA) (O)
House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (GA) (O)
Charlice Byrd, State House (GA)
Norman Bennett, State Senate (GA)
Bill Cowsert, State Senate (GA)
Jim Cole, State House (GA)
Bill Cotty, State House (SC)
Clay Cox, State House (GA)
Katie Dempsey, State House (GA)
Ken Clark, State House (SC)
Allen Freeman, State House (GA)
Greg Goggans, State Senate (GA)
Johnny Grant, State Senate (GA)
Tom Graves, State House (GA)
Randy Hall, State Senate (GA)
Mark Hatfield, State House (GA)
John Heard, State House (GA)
Mark Hamilton, State House (GA)
Bill Hamrick, State Senate (GA)
Bill Heath, State Senate (GA)
Judson Hill, State Senate (GA)
Bill Hembree, State House (GA)
Stebin Horne, State House (GA)
Jan Jones, State House (GA)
Keith Kelly, State House (SC)
Brian Kemp, State Senate (GA)
Tom Knox, State House (GA)
Jeff Mullis, State Senate (GA)
Mick Mulvaney, State House (SC)
Jack Murphy, State Senate (GA)
Mark Musselwhite, State Senate (GA)
Larry O'Neal, State House (GA)
Jimmy Pruett, State House (GA)
Bill Quarterman, State House (GA)
Bobby Reese, State House (GA)
Carl Rogers, State House (GA)
Ed Setzler, State House (GA)
Preston Smith, State Senate (GA)
Ginger Starlin, State House (GA)
Adam Taylor, State House (SC)
Dan Weber State Senate (GA)
Bill Whitmire, State House (SC)
Sen. Chip Pearson, State Senate (GA)
Chip Rogers, State Senate (GA)
Mitch Seabaugh, State Senate (GA)
Cecil Staton, State Senate (GA)
Ross Tolleson, State Senate (GA)
Jim Whitehead, State Senate (GA)
Bob Guhl, State Senate (GA)
Don Cheeks, State Senate (GA)
Rusty Paul, State Senate (GA)
John Douglas, State Senate (GA)
Ginger Collins, State Senate (GA)
Nancy Schaefer, State Senate (GA)
Ralph Hudgens, State Senate (GA)
Lance Cooper, State Senate (GA)
Bill Bonner, State Senate (GA)
Price Harding, State Senate (GA)
Amos Amerson, State House (GA)
Sue Burmiester, State House (GA)
Charlice Byrd, State House (GA)
Jim Cole, State House (GA)
Tom Knox, State House (GA)
Jeff Lewis, State House (GA)
Barry Loudermilk, State House (GA)
Judy Manning, State House (GA)
Mike Muntean, State House (GA)
Stacey Reece, State House (GA)
Howard Maxwell, State House (GA)
Chuck Harper, State House (GA)
Jay Neal, State House (GA)
Danae Roberts, State House (GA)
John Lunsford, State House (GA)
Len Walker, State House (GA)
Roger Lane, State House (GA)
Tom Rice, State House (GA)
Wendell Willard, State House (GA)
J. Max Davis State House (GA)
Barry Doublestein, State House (GA)
Rick Berry, State House (GA)
Kay Godwin, State House (GA)
Louise Shackelford, State House (GA)
Joe Sheehan, State House (GA)
George Pope, State House (GA)
Bill Laughery, State House (GA)
Sheila Auffrey, State House (GA)
Kurt Cannon, State House (GA)
Billy Johnson, State House (GA)
Mayor Bob Young, Augusta Mayor (GA)
Deke Copenhaver, Augusta Mayor (GA)
Rex Milsaps, Lawrenceville Mayor (GA)
Mike Crow, Lawrenceville City Council (GA)
Jeff Hall, Campbell County Mayor (TN)
Mike Byrd, County Commission (GA)
Tim Lee, County Commission (GA)
Lake Gibson, County Commission (GA)
Hal Echols, County Commission (GA)
Tim Lee, County Commission (GA)
Jeff Miller, County Commission (GA)
Steve Brown, County Commission (GA)
Willie Saunders Superior Court (GA)
Trip Self, Magistrate Court (GA)
Bill Swann, Circuit Court (TN)
Superior Court Judge Dennis
Blackmon (GA)
District Attorney Jeff Brickman (GA)
Magistrate Judge J. Wade Padgett (GA)
Superior Court Judge Sheryl Jolly (GA)
Richmond County Solicitor Ben McElmurray (GA)
Alpharetta Municipal Judge Jim Matoney (GA)
Sheriff Terry Langley (GA)
Corey Allen for Sheriff (GA)
Ken Ball for Sheriff (GA)
Ben Jackson for Magistrate Judge (GA)
Brian Sloan, Hall County
School Board (GA)
Commission Chairman John Kieffer (GA)
Commission Chairman Gary Gibbs (GA)
Commission Chairman Charles Bannister (GA)
Commission Chairman Norman
Wheeler (GA)
Commission Chairman Robert Barr (GA)
Commission Chairman Bebe Heiskell (GA)
County Commissioner Jim King (GA)
County Commissioner Norman (GA)
County Commissioner Deborah Lynn (GA)
County Commissioner Roger Cole (GA)
County Commissioner Joe Bowles (GA)
County Commissioner A.J. Pritchett (GA)
County Commissioner Marcy Krieger (GA)
County Commissioner Eddie Taylor (GA)
County Commissioner Arthur Vaughn (GA)
County Commissioner Glen Sears (GA)
City Councilman Matt Stone (GA)
City Councilman Rusty Gray (GA)
Cororner Danny Hutcheson (GA)
Blake Tillery for County Commission (GA)
Augie DeAugustinis for County Commission (GA)
Nita Spraggins for County Commission (GA)
Sandra Knight for Tax Commissioner (GA)
Kevin King for City Council (GA)
Fund for America’s Future PAC (Sen. Lindsey Graham)
National Republican Congressional Committee
Georgia Republican Party
Mississippi Republican Party
Illinois Republican Party
Tennessee Republican Party
GA House Republican Caucus
GA Senate Republican Caucus
Georgia Republican Majority Fund
Cobb Medical Society PAC
GAMPAC
PTPAC
Richmond County GOP
Lumpkin County GOP
Dawson County GOP
Clarke County GOP
Fulton County GOP
Pickens County GOP
Georgia Senate Republican Trust
Georgia House Republican Caucus
Georgia Right-to-Life
Georgia Christian Coalition
Southeastern Legal Foundation
GAGOP Hispanic Outreach
Stop! Buckhorn Landfill
Homeowners for Tax Relief
Marriage Amendment YES
Alec Poitenvant, State Republican
(GAGOP) Party Chairman
Chip Pearson, GAGOP Vice Chair
Nancy Rinn, GAGOP Vice Chair
Gray Smith, Forsyth County Republican Party Chairman
Century Strategies
Millennium Marketing
JCA Public Affairs
South Public Affairs
Isquared Communications
Firehouse Consulting
Southeastern Marketing
Capitol Strategy Group
Creative Marketing Strategies
Collins Strategy Group
Perdue Group Partners
Fivestone Marketing Communications
Liberty Strategies
Southern Political Report/Insider Advantage
The Arrow Group
Northpoint Community Church
Eastlake Community Church
Shady Grove Baptist Church
John Maxwell's INJOY Ministries
Youth Ministry Resources
PastorsLine
Todd Duncan Group
Protectthepledge.com
(O) Denotes work primarily for official
office or newsletter/franked mail
* Denotes Internet Services Only,
or minimal creative services.
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