Campaign HQ with David Plouffe

In the West, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is always seen as one of two things: KGB spy or judo master. But to anyone who’s ever lived in the Soviet Union, Putin is something else entirely: a street kid. Join journalist Julia Ioffe as she explores how Putin’s childhood taught him lessons that shape his thinking and actions to this day. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David unpacks the 2022 midterm election cycle and discusses what it means for the parties, the 2024 presidential election and democracy as a whole. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David is joined by Anna Staver of the USA Today Network's Ohio Bureau to talk about the key races and what the voting results that come in early evening on election night will tell us about how the night is going to go  Then, Dave Chase, campaign manager for Tim Ryan for Ohio, on why Ohio voters are aligned with his candidate's views - and the importance of getting as many Republican and Independent voters to cross-over, even in areas Ryan might not win. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Evan Smith of The Texas Tribune discusses what it would take to turn Texas blue, and why the demographics of the state suggest the Dobbs decision may not be as much of a driving factor for Democratic votes as it is in other states. Then Nick Rathod, campaign manager for Beto O’Rourke, discusses the state of the Governor’s race, what they are seeing on the ground and how they are tackling the need for big Democratic turnout. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David is joined by Will Doran who covers North Carolina politics for the News & Observer. Will provides a look at some important races including the crucial State Supreme Court races, which could have ramifications for years to come Then, Travis Brimm, campaign manager for Cheri Beasley discusses the challenges of getting to 50% and the importance of voter turnout in an important Senate race that hasn’t caught the national attention but could be pivotal. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wisconsin, as always, is a pivotal state.David is joined by Patrick Marley who writes about voting issues in the Upper Midwest for The Washington Post and looks not only at the governor’s and U.S. senate campaigns, but some of the other races and what the aftermath of this election could mean for 2024. Then, Sam Roecker, senior advisor and spokesperson for Governor Tony Evers discusses their campaign’s strategy to keep the governor’s office - and the particulars of an 1849 law that is preventing any abortions from being performed in the state. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Oosting is the Michigan Politics Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Jonathen takes us on a tour of all the key races and how the abortion issue is playing in the state.  Then, Preston Elliott, campaign manager for Gretchen Whitmer, takes us inside the Governor’s race, including how an incumbent Governor is navigating the perceived economic political headwinds.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez is the Democracy Reporter in Arizona for the Washington Post. Yvonne takes a look at how some Republican voters are taking a long hard look at the Democratic candidates, how the abortion topic could motivate voters, and whether or not we could see contested elections. Then, Emma Brown, campaign manager for Mark Kelly joins David and discusses keeping her eye on the prize and not assuming the other side's candidates are unelectable when history shows otherwise. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Ralston, expert on all things Nevada, takes us on tour of the many key Nevada races , discusses how Nevada has changed electorally and some of the nuances in Nevada elections. Then David is joined by Sam Barrett, campaign manager for Governor Steve Sisolak . Sam talks about running against a law and order candidate when crime is up and the opponent is the sheriff, and the importance the Dobbs decision on abortion has had in Nevada. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg Bluestein is a political reporter and author who covers Georgia politics for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is a MSNBC analyst. Greg joins David for an overview of key Georgia races including those of Stacey Abrams and Raphael Warnock. Then, David is joined by Quentin Fulks, campaign manager for Reverend Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate. He gives us the ground level view of their campaign against an unconventional candidate in Herschel Walker. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, Julia Terruso, political reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, gives us an overview of the key Pennsylvania races. Then, Brendan McPhillips campaign manager for John Fetterman with his thoughts on Dr Oz, social media and the lay of the land in this pivotal U.S. Senate race Finally, Berwood Yost, Director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall on how these Pennsylvania races could become a lot closer than they appear now.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Plouffe, former President Barack Obama’s campaign manager and White House Senior Advisor, returns for a new season on September 8th with a deep dive into key states in the crucial midterm elections - and what it will take to win them. Plouffe’s guests are key operatives, local political reporters and independent pollsters, who don’t just have opinions about what is happening–they know what is happening, because they are the ones in the arena. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Description: As Joe Biden’s campaign manager in 2020, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon became the first woman to manage a winning Democratic Presidential campaign. She and David discuss some of the logistical challenges the Biden campaign faced because of the pandemic, what goes into winning a battleground state and her thoughts on what the electoral map could look like for Democrats heading forward. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David takes a look at Tuesday Night’s election, when Joe Biden received the most votes in history. Why was there a difference between polls and turnout, and what trends are we seeing that could affect future elections. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beto O’Rourke is organizing on the ground in Texas and joins David while on his way to join Senator Harris on the campaign trail. Beto discusses the importance of the next five days, never making an assumption about a voter and what political direction Texas might head in the future. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cindy Lin is a field organizer for the Biden campaign’s efforts in Michigan. Cindy discusses the challenges and opportunities of doing volunteer recruitment and connecting with swing voters while working remotely, and reminds us that election day is not the first day of voting, it is the last. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kate Bedingfield is the deputy campaign manager and communications director for Biden For President. Kate and David discuss how Biden supporters can help the campaign in the close, the campaign’s primary communications challenges and opportunities, what Trump will show up at the last debate and planning for post Election Day. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Michael P. McDonald heads The United States Elections Project and discusses what we can learn so far from early vote turnout, how different states count those votes, and what overall voter turnout may be by the end. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Barton Gellman’s recent piece in The Atlantic, The Election That Could Break America, opened eyes to the lengths Donald Trump could go to stay in power. Gellman, a bestselling author and longtime journalist, joins David to talk about his piece, what we should be most concerned about, and how to mitigate the worst scenarios.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karine Jean-Pierre, Kamala Harris’ Chief of Staff discuses the upcoming debate vs. Mike Pence, her campaign approach and the Supreme Court fight To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices