Danny Diaz
| Danny Diaz | |||
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| Basic facts | |||
| Location: | Vienna, Virginia | ||
| Expertise: | Strategy, management, media | ||
| Affiliation: | Republican | ||
| Education: | George Mason University (2000) | ||
| Website: | Official website | ||
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| Connections | |||
| George W. Bush, John McCain, Republican National Committee, Susana Martinez, Mark Kirk, Mitt Romney, Ken Cuccinelli, Doug Ducey | |||
Danny Diaz is a Republican political strategist, originally hailing from Washington, D.C. Diaz was the campaign manager for Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign. He graduated from George Mason University in 2000 and now lives in Virginia.[1][2]
Career
Danny Diaz worked as the Southwest regional press secretary out of New Mexico for George W. Bush's (R) 2004 re-election campaign. He also served as a member of the campaign’s National Hispanic Working Group. During the next presidential cycle in 2008, he again worked in a communications role for John McCain (R). Prior to McCain's campaign, Diaz served as deputy communications director at the Republican National Committee (RNC).[1][3][2]
He found himself back at the RNC in 2008, this time in the role of communications director, where he oversaw the national party’s press, research and e-campaign operations. In 2010, Diaz served as a lead consultant on two campaigns: Mark Kirk (R) for U.S. Senate and Susana Martinez (R) for Governor of New Mexico. Both candidates won their races.[2]
In 2012, he served as senior advisor to Mitt Romney's (R) presidential campaign. He then worked as a senior consultant on then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's (R) unsuccessful Virginia gubernatorial campaign. During the 2014 election cycle, he worked as spokesman and senior advisor to Martinez and served as the general consultant for Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s (R) successful general election campaign, .[3][2]
Diaz is also a founding partner at FP1 Strategies LLC, "a public affairs, media relations, digital communications and advertising firm specializing in project management, strategic planning, message development and advertising for political and issue-based campaigns."[2]
Jeb Bush presidential campaign, 2016
- See also: Jeb Bush presidential campaign, 2016
After exploring the possibility of a presidential run for several months, Bush officially announced his candidacy on June 15, 2015, at Miami Dade College. He largely focused on economic issues and said he would "take Washington – the static capital of this dynamic country – out of the business of causing problems." Bush, who served as governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007, is the son of former President George H.W. Bush and the brother of former President George W. Bush. He is the first brother of a president to run for the office since the Kennedy family, Robert in 1968 and Ted in 1980.[4]
Diaz initially joined the unofficial Bush campaign as a media consultant, and it was expected that David Kochel would serve as campaign manager once the effort officially got underway.[5] However, shortly before Bush officially announced the launch of his campaign, Diaz was named as the campaign manager. Sally Bradshaw, one of Bush's most trusted senior advisors, said the following regarding the last-minute change: "David can best position us for success by playing a key leadership role focusing on how Jeb wins primaries, caucuses, and ultimately the general election and Danny’s skill at rapidly moving content and campaign organization makes him perfectly suited for running the day-to-day operations.”[6][7]
According to the Washington Post, "Diaz, a 39-year-old D.C. native, has developed a close relationship with Bush since joining his orbit in February as a media consultant, endearing himself to the candidate with his hard-driving manner, according to informed Republicans. Diaz was described as a 'lion' and 'tiger' by others Monday. Bush 'very much likes Danny’s vigor and intensity,' a campaign official said."[5] Politico notes, "[Diaz] is considered an intense and aggressive operative — as Bush called him, a 'grinder.'"[1]
Bush ended his run for the White House after faring poorly in the Iowa Caucuses as well as primary elections in New Hampshire and South Carolina.[8] At a gathering of supporters in the Palmetto State on February 20, 2016, he said:
| “ | The people of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken, and I really respect their decision, so tonight I am suspending my campaign.[8][9] | ” |
Days after the campaign ended, Diaz received some criticism for the Bush campaign's failure to gain support in the early voting states. On February 23, 2016, former Bush fundraiser James Wareham told NPR, "We had a campaign manager who had no real experience. Danny Diaz. He lacked the temperament. [...] Had the campaign handled New Hampshire better and signed on the people that [John] Kasich signed on, and had they succeeded in getting Nikki Haley and Tim Scott on board, I wouldn't be sitting here right now. I'd be on a plane to Nevada [where the next Republican caucus was to be held]."[10]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Politico, "The power players behind Jeb Bush's campaign," June 15, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 FP1 Strategies, "Danny Diaz," accessed June 16, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Santa Fe New Mexican, "Danny Diaz to manage Bush campaign," June 9, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, "In Announcing Run, Jeb Bush Plays Down His Surname," June 15, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Washington Post, "In surprise shakeup, Jeb Bush taps Danny Diaz as campaign manager," June 8, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Jeb Bush names Danny Diaz as campaign manager," June 8, 2015
- ↑ CNN, "Jeb Bush adds veteran consultants to likely campaign team," February 2, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 NBC News, "Jeb Bush Suspends 2016 Presidential Campaign," February 20, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ NPR, "With Bush Out Of the Race, A Massive War Chest Is Up For Grabs," February 23, 2016
