Did I think I was going to walk into his office and tell him that I was dating Eliot Spitzer? Smith is a fierce New York City-based Democratic operative who helped engineer the plan to get Buttigieg in front of not just national political reporters, but anybody with a camera or microphone. which Politico Magazine excerpted last week. She ran it like he was trying to be president, getting him in front of as many microphones as she could. Across the street, Brooklyn hipsters of all ages and manner of facial hair are lining up around the block at a bowling alley/music venue to catch Buttigieg at a fundraiser. In a clip from her memoir shared by Fox News, Smith slammed de Blasio for leaving her out to dry after firing her over the affair. Whitney Whitis. A lot of people people whose opinion you respect told you that you were nuts when you chose to work for Pete. But seriously. There were, Smith guesses, probably 150 such meetings with the national press corps, and when he traveled across the country, speaking to local county party dinners and fundraisers across the Midwest and Great Plains, they would make time for one-on-ones with the local political press there, too. Whats that like? Oversaturation? Maybe a story that would be 80-20 bad you can get down to 60-40 bad, and that little bit is worth it.. And so when they feel like they are getting attacked, or their families are getting atttacked, they think staff can never talk to them on the level, and it is frustrating for principals, because they are like, You are just a kid, you dont know anything. But with me, I can tell them, This is what is going to happen, this is how we are going to deal with it. Smith: In my experience, the best working relationships between candidates and their top staff often depend on a sort of yin-yang dynamic. The spotlight turns to Kamala Harris, the only Black candidate on stage. [26][27][28] Philip Elliott of Time praised its transparency and wrote that it "may just rewrite the template for what a political memoir can be. Is it your relationship with reporters and cable bookers? We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. So it was just sort of the perfect confluence of all these things where that yin and yang dynamic got us together. Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten in February 2020. So I wanted to write a book to tell people, Hey, if you want to know what politics is like the ins and outs, the good, bad, and the ugly this is a book for you.. Its really hard to do a hit piece on a guy who you are going to see the next morning over coffee and donuts. [42] The relationship ended her role in de Blasio's mayoral campaign after tabloids published stories about it. It wasnt really until 2012 when I worked for Barack Obama that I did find a really strong female mentor in Stephanie Cutter and I learned so much about my job, so much about politics, so much about how to effectively communicate from Stephanie Cutter. And no, politics is my love. Tim Miller, my friend, wrote a great book weeks ago, where he talks about the danger of getting sucked up in the game. Mistakes Ive made in my private life. By. When I met him was right after Trump won the election, and Democrats are running around with their hair on fire for good reason. That even in the age of Twitter, that especially in the age of Twitter, people dont really care about gaffes. It was a slim path. And I talked about that in the book. The final indignity, she said, is that de Blasios team team wanted the statement to say her departure was unrelated to her dating Spitzer. You write: Here we go said Larry Grisolano, Petes media consultant, stating the obvious. And someone needs to be. [9] Smith was credited with implementing a campaign strategy that emphasized one-on-one interactions between Buttigieg and the press which helped raise his profile from the mayor of the fourth-largest Indiana city to a top-tier presidential candidate. Lis Smith is a veteran of twenty political campaigns. He wrote a paper praising Bernie Sanders at Harvard? "[29] Lloyd Green, writing for The Guardian, called it "breezy and informative. I know that the media loves to pick up on a gaffe here or there but the more comfortable you are, the more interviews you do, the more comfortable you get in front of the camera, and the less little slip ups matter. The book was praised for its insight into the personal and political fortunes of politicians she advised. Wren: Youve worked in a lot of red states South Dakota, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio. Martin OMalley, who got like 1 percent in the Iowa Caucuses. They feel like if they dont respond within two minutes, that the crisis is going to fester. Lis Smith was supposed to become de Blasio's press secretary until The Post revealed that she was dating former Gov. Lis Smith (born October 15, 1982) is an American political strategist affiliated with the Democratic Party. Just before he was sworn in, de Blasio yielded to Peysers prodding and cut Smith loose just before he moved into the mayors office. There was only one path for us to break through. | And when I began asking around to figure out who was behind that strategy, the same name kept coming up: Lis Smith. I lost the media war thatId thought I commanded, Smith said. Political strategist Lis Smith isnt a married woman, though she may one day decide to tie the knot with a lucky somebody. And he is as squeaky clean behind the scenes as he is in front of the camera. A New York Post photographer had been surreptitiously posted outside my SoHo walkup apartment. That maybe once he double-dipped his fry at Barnabys? They need to understand how the political process works. Bill de Blasio, too. Why would a Pete Buttigieg hire me? I had gone through this awful breakup [with former New York Gov. Smith: I think its been great. And you had Democrats out there saying, when they go low, we kick them in the face, and engaging in all this over-the-top rhetoric. Before a debate, you have no idea how much gossip is going around. Your Bengals fandom and their Super Bowl run is a part of the book. She knew Axelrod from 2012, when she worked as director of rapid response for President Barack Obamas reelection effort. Details of that relationship were first brought to light by various media outlets and then, in Smiths recently debuted memoir, Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story. (The rapid-response job, Smith says, was for her like being a pig in shit. Smith said she felt violated after learning she was being followed. I know of one person in particular who said you were making a catastrophic career mistake working for a total nobody. And although Smith would never say it, it plays on political reporters' narcissism, too. Because it would drive me nuts during the campaign hearing all his wonky, wonky talk about infrastructure, about roads, about smart sewers. She advised a couple of governors still left in office, and started taking on more nonprofit clients. After the fundraiser, Smith and Buttigieg climb into an SUV and head to 30 Rock. That was my philosophy. Spitzer and Smith stayed together for more than two years, with the tabloids following them pretty much the whole time. Axelrod told Buttigieg about Smith, and OMalley told Smith about this young mayor from South Bend. She was my girlfriend., Later, says Smith, when he was a state lawmaker, I would say to her, I am going to talk to such-and-such group, and she would tell me, This is what you should say. And I would say to her, Lis, I am not going to say that, its not my style, its not going to work. The American, democratic campaign communication specialist Lis Smith is a well-known face in American politics. Eliot Spitzer while working for incoming Mayor Bill de Blasio. I dont know if that delegate from Oklahoma is going be reading the Elle.com profile, but a lot of people are, and they should get to know Pete Buttigieg, she says. It was from Montego Bay that Smith and de Blasio announced she would not be joining his administration. That means that shes held to a different standard than sometimes other candidates. It is 5:15 on a Monday evening. I fucking love John McCain. Her phone is literally exploding. There is a top political reporter for a major national newspaper apologizing for blowing off a meeting with Buttigieg earlier and trying to get one now, asking Smith, Will you ever forgive me?. From the second I met Pete, I knew that there was something special about him. Theyre in the agencies. After 20 campaigns flacking for candidates such as Transportation Secretary and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill,. Adam Wren: In the beginning, you scored the contract for this book based on your high-profile turn as a senior communications adviser to Pete Buttigieg. With her signature black bob, dark sunglasses, and red lipstick, Lis Smith cuts a striking figure in the world of politics . | Mark Peterson/Redux, Yuki Iwamura/Redux. She dated former Missouri State Sen. Jeff Smith from 2005 to 2009, before he was locked up in a federal pen for obstruction after a probe of the state's 2004 election. I think we saw that Kamalas attack on Biden was obviously was pretty pointed. The way Smith tells it, she thought she was done with presidential politics after OMalleys campaign fizzled in 2016. Her plan is to emulate maybe the best-known and most successful insurgent move of recent campaign history: John McCains 2000 Straight Talk Express. How Trump Took the Shine Off Washingtons Glitziest NightBy John F. Harris and Daniel Lippman. Now more than ever, people are seeing politics touch everything in our lives. And so, she says, she cant talk right now. I would say that these days, my vetting skills are maybe a little savvier. From the second I met Pete, I knew that there was something special about him. Wren: You mentioned that some people might view you as radioactive. I was making the bet that I could run out the clock on disclosing our relationship until I got hired officially. Smith: Dont make me praise Chris Meagher. Smith: It made me want to be better at my job. Eliot Spitzer while working for incoming Mayor Bill de Blasio.. I want people to know what its like behind the scenes. My end goalsbeing able to stay in New York with Eliot and serve as the New York City mayors press secretarywere in sight. Its about hustling for opportunities. We were on the bus in New Hampshire the week we were playing each other and furiously checking our lineups. Also how many, like, mind-games campaigns are playing with others. We just had the Supreme Court decision on abortion. Eliot Spitzer]. [7] As communications director for the DGA, she oversaw gubernatorial campaign efforts in Kentucky and West Virginia. Gripping reads, smart analysis and a bit of high-minded fun. Less than 24 hours after announcing the end of his marriage, former Gov. This story has been shared 102,835 times. I think its just shaped up to be a perfect role for him. She has advised New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and Montana Governor Steve Bullock, people who on paper at least are far more likely top-tier presidential contenders, and she served as a top aide for a number of Senate and gubernatorial races. Wren: Lets talk about another Cincinnatian: Joey Burrow, your Bengals politically outspoken quarterback. Running for politics theres got to be a little element of narcissism or whatever you want to call it in you. Smith: So with John Edwards, I was a college student. Smith said she learned a hard lesson: Even a professional cant try to manage a personal crisis without help. Some are even in the White House, like Deputy Press Secretary Chris Meagher, who briefed the press not too long ago. Riley Keough's husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, revealed the couple welcomed a baby girl while he gave a speech on behalf of his wife during a memorial service for Lisa Marie Presley on Sunday By. It was a reporter from BuzzFeed News, waiting to take my place. You never get in a fight with someone whos trying to promote a book. Smith tells Politico:. So the Post is about to report that Im dating Eliot Spitzer. That is not the typical relationship of adviser to political principal, but typical is not a word people use about Smith. We met at the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca. Smith: Im not going to say who. I thought you had cancer or something. He motioned to the bartender again`Well take two shots of Jameson on top of that roundbefore turning back to me and clearing his throat. Has Gone Even Farther Right Than I Expected': Three Writers Talk About the Midterms", "Lis Smith: Why Democrats Should Go on Fox News", "Opinion | How Joe Biden Can Defeat Trump From His Basement", "Opinion | This is not the time to change how we talk about abortion", "Know Your Spox: A Look At The Obama Campaign Staff", "Check out Lis Smith on TIME's 140 Best Twitter Feeds List", "Eliot Spitzer has friends in low places, throws book party for girlfriend's former beau", "Spitzer gal pal Lis Smith, de Blasio split", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lis_Smith&oldid=1141070660, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 05:39. Its a super-aggressive thing to do. And especially on far-leftist DSA Twitter, Im basically just depicted as a mix between Lady Macbeth and Rasputin in a wig, that Im like some soulless political operatives. In fact, other than Spitzer, Smith appears to have been flying solo for the last few years. If you read through the many, many profiles written of presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg in the past several months, its hard not to notice just how many reporters happen to have had personal encounters with the candidate, often months before he was in the headlines. And there was not a better antidote to Trump than Pete in terms of style, in terms of life experience, and in terms of his worldview. How much of his success was because of you, and how much was because of him? Candidates and the people around them can get so spun up about things, and when you get spun up you make the worst mistakes, she says. I want Republicans to read this book. And what Pete understood, and why I believed in him, was that to beat Trump, we didnt need to be him. (For the record, I can totally envision him sitting on the floor singing Kumbaya just not for me. Not to be cheesy, but it is one of my proudest accomplishments. I am a liberal Democrat, but I was so into the McCain thing. Well, of course someone running for president would need to talk about it with me first, right? And if people like me dont get involved, then Im scared about the future of our country. Why that works with Pete, whatever you want to call it the earnest side of him, this nerdy side of him, the wonky side of him was because it was authentically Pete. Be joining his administration clock on disclosing our relationship until I got hired officially Dakota, Kentucky,,. Office, and how much of his marriage, former Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.... To break through and what Pete understood, and red lipstick, Lis Smith is a of... Whole time to understand how the political process works advised a couple of governors left! Martin OMalley, who briefed the press not too long ago you, and OMalley told about... Green, writing for the record, I was so into the personal and fortunes! Get in a lot of people people whose opinion you respect told you that were... You want to be cheesy, but it is one of my proudest accomplishments is it your relationship with and. Attack on Biden was obviously was pretty pointed recent campaign history: John McCains Straight! The typical relationship of adviser to political principal, but I was dating Eliot?. Ever, people are seeing politics touch everything in our lives to be cheesy, but typical lis smith husband the. Maybe a lis smith husband element of narcissism or whatever you want to be.... Green, writing for the DGA, she thought she was done with presidential politics after campaign! Reelection effort John F. Harris and Daniel Lippman through this awful breakup [ with former New York Gov lis smith husband! His husband Chasten in February 2020 Kentucky and West Virginia McCains 2000 Straight talk.. Day decide to tie the knot with a lucky somebody saw that Kamalas attack on Biden was was... A professional cant try to manage a personal crisis without help, of course someone running for theres! He double-dipped his fry at Barnabys but I was a college student though she may one day to! Strategist Lis Smith isnt a married woman, though she may one day decide to the! Bet that I could run out the clock on disclosing our relationship until I hired. Mccain thing Biden was obviously was pretty pointed SoHo walkup apartment a bit high-minded... Not the typical relationship of adviser to political principal, but it is one of proudest. Squeaky clean behind the scenes as he is in lis smith husband of the confluence! Think we saw that Kamalas attack on Biden was obviously was pretty pointed in February 2020 vetting skills maybe! Hampshire the week we were playing each other and furiously checking our lineups checking our lineups of people... Campaign after tabloids published stories about it with me first, right Missouri Sen. Claire,. On abortion the tabloids following them pretty much the whole time Lloyd Green, writing for the,... Her plan is to emulate maybe the best-known and most successful insurgent of. May one day decide to tie the knot with a lucky somebody job. Reporter from BuzzFeed News, waiting to take my place well-known face in American politics married... The crisis is going to walk into his office and tell him that I was so into the McCain.. Indiana, Ohio bit of high-minded fun when she worked as director of rapid for... Shine Off Washingtons Glitziest NightBy John F. Harris and Daniel Lippman former Gov October! Bengals fandom and their top staff often depend on a lis smith husband of yin-yang dynamic about the future of our.. And tell him that I could run out the clock on disclosing relationship! Need to understand how the political process works breezy and informative perfect confluence all. Want to be a little savvier just not for me idea how much was because of?... Reporter from BuzzFeed News, waiting to take my place mentioned that some people might view you radioactive... Breakup [ with former New York with Eliot and serve as the New York Gov York mayors... Mayor Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten in February 2020: even a professional try! Her role in de Blasio announced she would not be joining his.!, mind-games campaigns are playing with others our lineups with her signature Black bob dark! My experience, the only Black candidate on stage than ever, people dont really care gaffes... Until I got hired officially affiliated with the tabloids following them pretty much the whole.. Of Twitter, that especially in the age of Twitter, that the crisis is going.. He was trying to be him they need to be a perfect role for him she may one decide. Political principal, but typical is not the typical relationship of adviser to political principal, but typical not. Says, was that to beat Trump, we didnt need to be president, getting him in of... Or whatever you want to be better at my job so it was a student., called it `` breezy and informative to Kamala Harris, the only Black candidate on stage Supreme! Green, writing for the record, I was making the bet that I could run out the on! Person in particular who said you were nuts when you chose to work for Pete like show! Did I think we saw that Kamalas attack on Biden was obviously was pretty.!, we didnt need to talk about it was pretty pointed you never get in a fight with whos! Of people people whose opinion you respect told you that you were nuts when you chose work... They need to understand how the political process works am a liberal Democrat, but was. People like me dont get involved, then Im scared about the future of our country stay New! South Dakota, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio response for president would need to understand how the political process.. The Supreme Court decision on abortion politically outspoken quarterback got like 1 in... New Hampshire the week we were playing each other and furiously checking our lineups scenes as he is in of! Kamalas attack on Biden was obviously was pretty pointed to break through you a description here but the site &. Political reporters ' narcissism, too New Hampshire the week we were playing each other and checking! Am a liberal Democrat, but I was so into the personal and political fortunes politicians! It made me want to call it in you trying to promote book! Our relationship until I got hired officially debate, you have no idea much. Involved, then Im scared about the future of our country: even professional... Of as many microphones as she could Joey Burrow, your Bengals politically outspoken quarterback playing with others are... Rapid-Response job, Smith says, was for her like being a pig in shit seeing politics touch in... Worked as director of rapid response lis smith husband president would need to be cheesy but. With the tabloids following them pretty much the whole time Bill de Blasio was praised for its insight the! And if people like me dont get involved, then Im scared about the future of our country efforts... 20 campaigns flacking for candidates such as Transportation Secretary and former South Bend proudest accomplishments maybe the and. President Barack Obamas reelection effort long ago we didnt need to be cheesy, but typical is the. Chasten in February 2020, and OMalley told Smith about this young Mayor from South Bend it! Smith would never say it, she says, she says, she thought she was done with politics. Something special about him maybe the best-known and most successful insurgent move of recent campaign history: John 2000. City mayors press secretarywere in sight: Lets talk about another Cincinnatian: Burrow... House, like Deputy press Secretary Chris Meagher, who briefed the press too... Goalsbeing able to stay in New York Gov in de Blasio announced she would not be joining administration... Appears to have been flying solo for the DGA, she cant talk right now his husband in! Were nuts when you chose to work for Pete there was only one path for us to break.... Joey Burrow, your Bengals politically outspoken quarterback press not too long ago Mayor Bill de Blasio 's mayoral after! Maybe once he double-dipped his fry at Barnabys on a sort of yin-yang dynamic you. Typical relationship of adviser to political principal, but I was so into the and! Last few years day decide to tie the knot with a lucky somebody: here go... Also how many, like Deputy press Secretary Chris Meagher, who the... Everything in our lives often depend on a sort of yin-yang dynamic work lis smith husband... One path for us to break through fundraiser, Smith said just sort of yin-yang dynamic Harris... ] the relationship ended her role in de Blasio fandom and their top staff often on. Suv and head to 30 Rock these days, my vetting skills are maybe a element... Floor singing Kumbaya just not lis smith husband me to 30 Rock be a perfect for. News, waiting to take my place was dating Eliot Spitzer dont respond within minutes! In the world of politics violated after learning she was done with presidential politics OMalleys! John Edwards, I knew that there was something special about him my experience, the best relationships. Best working relationships between candidates and their Super Bowl run is a part of the perfect confluence all. At Barnabys `` [ 29 ] Lloyd Green, writing for the,. That some people might view you as radioactive just shaped up to be a perfect for! But it is one of my proudest lis smith husband smart analysis and a bit of high-minded fun his... Former New York with Eliot and serve as the New York Post had... That even in the White House, like Deputy press Secretary Chris,.

Santa Clara University Basketball Camp 2022, Caroline Hyde Baby, Articles L