MDE EXCLUSIVE: COLEEN ROWLEY AND BLOIS OLSON
Coleen Rowley's campaign has been criticized by numerous DFL activists in Minnesota. One of the most vocal critics has been Blois Olson, co-publisher of Politics in Minnesota.
This is what Blois said in late October:
'"We're still early here, but I think among Democrats it's fair to say they're disappointed that the campaign hasn't created more momentum,' said Blois Olson, a Democratic consultant and co-publisher of the newsletter Politics in Minnesota.'I think there's some naivete about the process.'
Rowley's third-quarter fundraising, $80,000 to Kline's $230,000, disappointed many Minnesota Democrats. There's also concern about what some see as an obsession with national security issues in a district that leans Republican.'She needs to develop some discipline in how she talks, and what she talks about,' Olson said. Source: Associated Press, October 27, 2005
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Politics in Minnesota, co-published by Blois Olson, first mentioned that Coleen Rowley may face a challenger for the DFL nomination in 2006:
"An excellent source has told us that State Senator Sharon Marko (D-Cottage Grove) is considering running for Congress against Representative John Kline in the Second Congressional District. That move would give Colleen Rowley a significant challenger for endorsement or in a primary." Source: Politics in Minnesota, November 11, 2005
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I have been informed by a source in direct contact with Coleen Rowley's campaign, that Blois Olson's PR firm, New School Communications, tried to get Rowley's campaign to hire Blois' firm for a consulting contract.
Buck Humphrey, an employee of New School Communications, was the main person trying to get Rowley's campaign to ink the contract.
Rowley's campaign decided against hiring New School Communications.
According to my source, it was only after Rowley's campaign decided against hiring Blois' firm that Blois started to appear in newspapers criticizing Rowley's campaign.
If my source is correct, and I believe they are, Politics in Minnesota and Blois Olson have some explaining to do.
Why did Blois never disclose he was trying to get Rowley's campaign to hire his firm?
This story is developing and I will have more information later this evening.
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UPDATE: Blois Olson sent me the following email:
-----Original Message-----
From: Blois Olson [mailto:b.olson@new-school.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 8:49 PM
To: Minnesota Democrats Exposed
Subject: RE: Minnesota Democrats Exposed: MDE EXCLUSIVE: COLEEN ROWLEY AND BLOIS OLSON
Importance: High
I don't know who you are but your story is ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
New School Communications does not do ANY political work. Buck Humphrey may have persued a work with Rowley PRIOR to his employment at New School but we do not do any campaign work.
I demand a retraction immediately.
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Here is my response:
1. New-School's client list shows political work.
2. This is from Blois' bio on New-School's website: "Blois Olson leads New School Communications with a broad background in public affairs, media relations and campaign management. Specializing in innovative strategies for small businesses and public affairs organizations, he is well known for his media relations and public relations, as well as his political and pundit work."
3. Blois' occupation is listed as "a Democratic consultant" in the above story .
4. According to New-School's website, Buck Humphrey joined the firm in March 2005. My source informs me that Humphrey was trying to get a contract with Rowley's campaign in June 2005. If my source is correct, Humphrey was an employee of New-School communications when he was trying to work with Rowley's campaign and it was not done prior to Humphrey joining New-School Communications as Blois now claims.
This is what Blois said in late October:
'"We're still early here, but I think among Democrats it's fair to say they're disappointed that the campaign hasn't created more momentum,' said Blois Olson, a Democratic consultant and co-publisher of the newsletter Politics in Minnesota.'I think there's some naivete about the process.'
Rowley's third-quarter fundraising, $80,000 to Kline's $230,000, disappointed many Minnesota Democrats. There's also concern about what some see as an obsession with national security issues in a district that leans Republican.'She needs to develop some discipline in how she talks, and what she talks about,' Olson said. Source: Associated Press, October 27, 2005
##
Politics in Minnesota, co-published by Blois Olson, first mentioned that Coleen Rowley may face a challenger for the DFL nomination in 2006:
"An excellent source has told us that State Senator Sharon Marko (D-Cottage Grove) is considering running for Congress against Representative John Kline in the Second Congressional District. That move would give Colleen Rowley a significant challenger for endorsement or in a primary." Source: Politics in Minnesota, November 11, 2005
##
I have been informed by a source in direct contact with Coleen Rowley's campaign, that Blois Olson's PR firm, New School Communications, tried to get Rowley's campaign to hire Blois' firm for a consulting contract.
Buck Humphrey, an employee of New School Communications, was the main person trying to get Rowley's campaign to ink the contract.
Rowley's campaign decided against hiring New School Communications.
According to my source, it was only after Rowley's campaign decided against hiring Blois' firm that Blois started to appear in newspapers criticizing Rowley's campaign.
If my source is correct, and I believe they are, Politics in Minnesota and Blois Olson have some explaining to do.
Why did Blois never disclose he was trying to get Rowley's campaign to hire his firm?
This story is developing and I will have more information later this evening.
##
UPDATE: Blois Olson sent me the following email:
-----Original Message-----
From: Blois Olson [mailto:b.olson@new-school.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 8:49 PM
To: Minnesota Democrats Exposed
Subject: RE: Minnesota Democrats Exposed: MDE EXCLUSIVE: COLEEN ROWLEY AND BLOIS OLSON
Importance: High
I don't know who you are but your story is ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
New School Communications does not do ANY political work. Buck Humphrey may have persued a work with Rowley PRIOR to his employment at New School but we do not do any campaign work.
I demand a retraction immediately.
##
Here is my response:
1. New-School's client list shows political work.
2. This is from Blois' bio on New-School's website: "Blois Olson leads New School Communications with a broad background in public affairs, media relations and campaign management. Specializing in innovative strategies for small businesses and public affairs organizations, he is well known for his media relations and public relations, as well as his political and pundit work."
3. Blois' occupation is listed as "a Democratic consultant" in the above story .
4. According to New-School's website, Buck Humphrey joined the firm in March 2005. My source informs me that Humphrey was trying to get a contract with Rowley's campaign in June 2005. If my source is correct, Humphrey was an employee of New-School communications when he was trying to work with Rowley's campaign and it was not done prior to Humphrey joining New-School Communications as Blois now claims.
4 Comments:
I don't know who MDE is are but your story is ABSOLUTELY FALSE.
New School Communications does not do ANY political work. Buck Humphrey may have discussed work with Rowley PRIOR to his employment at New School but we do not do any campaign work.
I demand a retraction immediately.
It is well known that New School and Blois Olson have not done any campaign work since 1998.
It would be a clear conflict to our publications.
It should also be noted that an anonymous blogger that doesn't accept anonymous postings could be defined as a hypocrit.
If you want attributal, political insight from people with real experience and credibility, not afraid to put their name on what they write - subscribe to www.politicsinminnesota.com
Whether or not this Blois guy's company had something to gain from saying Rowley's campaign is in shambles is really not the point here, because everything he said is the truth and it has been confirmed by a myriad of other Democrats and pundits (Joe Atkins, Sharon Marko, Amy Walter, Stu Rothenberg, etc...) in the same stories that you cited.
Bottom line: Kline outraised Rowley by 3 to 1 last quarter and I'd be willing to bet he'll outraised her by at least 2 to 1 again this time. If you wan't to go after Buck Humphrey, be my guest, but don't give Rowley any credibility - she's running a terrible campaign and is a laughable candidate. Remember the Sheehan!
Kline outraised Rowley 3 to 1? Don't kid yourself. Neocon candidates in Minnesota -- like neocons throughout the country -- have been bankrolled by Abramhoff and from the kool-aid drinkers who pay $14k to stand next to Bush or Cheney when they drop by for 15 minutes. Minnesota Republicans have not had any input into picking a candidate since 2000. Kline, Kennedy, Coleman, Pawlenty and all the other MN Repubs who threw in their lots with BushCo have a helluva lot of baggage going into 2006 -- none of it good.
Rowley, on the other hand, is running an authentic campaign. She's not dependent on DC strategists or Twin Cities wannabee players like New School. Check out her blog. Republicans who don't recognize their party are supporting her.
Brave people like Cindy Sheehan, John Murtha and Coleen Rowley are the ones who will ultimately save this country.
As far as Marko, there's not much to get excited about. She's been testing the waters in a very negative fashion but is finding a rather tepid, if not downright cool, reception.
"Brave people like Sheehan, Murtha and Rowley....save this country"!!!????
that's the most hilarious thing i've heard in a long while, and i'm surrounded by Moonbats
you must be Well stoned.
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