Perry: Massive Iowa TV Commercial Buy

Politico reports that Texas Governor Rick Perry is going all-in in Iowa in advance of the Republican presidential caucuses, plunking down $1 million in broadcast TV ad time for three weeks leading up to the caucuses.

A heavy buy in Iowa for a week's TV time can be bought for less than half that sum, meaning Perry will be reaching a zone-flooding level in a final bid to boost his poll numbers.

Allbaugh, Bush

The massive media buy may indicate the influence of Oklahoman Joe Allbaugh and other new advisors on Perry's campaign. Allbaugh recently joined Perry as a senior campaign advisor. Perry quickly began appealing more to Christian conservative Republicans, the base of the GOP's primary voting population (http://www.jamienorman.com/weeksco/_FINALS/Strong_FINAL.mp4).

Allbaugh was a pioneer in the use of cable television in Oklahoma to reach specific audiences. As manager of Henry Bellmon's successful second campaign for governor, Allbaugh earned the reputation that resulted in his management of George W. Bush's campaigns for governor of Texas and for president.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/69932.html#ixzz1fqYtudac.

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Perry Retooling Under Allbaugh's Guidance

Perry and Allbaugh

Texas Governor Rick Perry has turned to a veteran of the presidential wars, Oklahoman Joe Allbaugh, for guidance as he struggles to get his campaign back on track.

Allbaugh has joined several other longtime national Republican strategists on Perry's team.

Allbaugh managed George W. Bush's campaign for governor of Texas and was part of the triumvirate that managed his first presidential race. Upon Bush's election, Allbaugh, a Blackwell native and Oklahoma State University graduate, was named director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration. He left that position to form his own international consulting firm, based in Washington and Austin.

Texas newspapers report that sources say Allbaugh, known as a stern and disciplined manager, will play a central role in trying to get the Texas governor back on top of the GOP field.

And Allbaugh is now trying to do just that. Today, he forwarded to The McCarville Report Online and others an Iowa in-house poll conducted by an Austin firm for Perry.

The poll, conducted December 3-4:

NAME AWARENESS AND IMAGE

Rick Perry’s positive is at 67% among all respondents, and it is 71% among those who have seen a television ad about Perry.

Among those who share all or most of the views of the Tea Party Movement, Perry is at 78% positive. Furthermore, Perry’s positive image is 71% among voters who are undecided on the ballot test.

Rick Perry’s strongly positive image increased six points since our Nov 19-20 survey.

BALLOT TEST

At 13%, Rick Perry is now in third place on the ballot test. Gingrich is at 29% and Romney is at 19%.

Perry garners 19% among voters who attend church services more than once a week.

Among the voters who have already seen the new faith TV ad, Perry is at 28%.

Only 24% of respondents are definitely supporting any of the seven candidates on the ballot whereas 67% state they could change their minds. Moreover, three-quarters of the Gingrich voters indicate they could still change their minds. The race remains very fluid.

INFORMATION FLOW

68% have seen, read or heard something recently about Rick Perry. The net favorable reaction to what voters have seen, read or heard has increased for the third consecutive survey. Our message is starting to take hold!

Interesting crosstab note here: The favorable reaction to information voters have seen, read or heard about Perry increases as their church attendance increases.

Perry also announced the addition of six other nationally known consultants. Tony Frabrizio, a pollster and former strategist for 1996 GOP nominee Bob Dole, and Fred Maas, who has worked on the campaigns of Dole, John McCain and others, will also take "senior adviser" titles, the campaign said.
Stanton Anderson, who has managed Republican conventions and served as counsel to the Reagan-Bush campaign in 1980, will become the Perry campaign's congressional liaison.

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Austin Fire Destroys Allbaugh Home

An Austin, Texas home occupied by the family of Joe and Diane Allbaugh has been destroyed by fire. Allbaugh and family members were not injured in the Christmas Eve blaze.

Allbaugh, Blackwell native and former chief of staff for Governor Henry Bellmon who later managed George Bush's first presidential campaign and then became director of the Federal Emergency Managment Agency (FEMA), said the family had used a backyard fireplace earlier in the evening, but turned it off when they went inside. The fire destroyed the 8,100 square foot home and most of the family's possessions. The home was being rented while Allbaugh's home a short distance away is being renovated.

The Allbaughs own a home in Virginia that was purchased from Vice President Dick Cheney.

Allbaugh operates The Allbaugh Company in Washington and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association.

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Dan Boren Nominated For NRA Board Of Directors

Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren has been nominated for membership on the National Rifle Association's Board of Directors.

Boren is one of 34 nominees, from which 26 will be elected in balloting later this year.

Oklahomans now serving on the NRA Board include Joe Allbaugh of Blackwell and Washington; Cleta Mitchell, former Oklahoma legislator now a Washington attorney; John Burtt of Shawnee; and Bill Brewster, former congressman now a Washington lobbyist.

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Allbaugh Joins Giuliani Campaign As Senior Advisor

The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee announced today that former FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh will serve as Senior Advisor to the Giuliani campaign.

Allbaugh, a Blackwell native and Oklahoma State University graduate, will advise the campaign on general strategy and homeland security.

"Rudy Giuliani is the only candidate who will keep America on offense in the Terrorists' War on Us," said Allbaugh. "The leadership he showed after 9/11 was an inspiration not only to New Yorkers but to the country. He knows what it takes to keep America safe, and as President, he will ensure that our country never goes back on defense in this war."

"Joe and I worked closely together in the aftermath of 9/11 to ensure that everything possible was being done to help victims and their families," Giuliani said. "He has significant experience in emergency management and I will look to him for sound advice and expertise."

Allbaugh is president and CEO of the Allbaugh Company, LLC, which formulates corporate strategies designed to create new opportunities and expand competitive advantage for private sector clients. Allbaugh managed President Bush's 2000 campaign and served as the FEMA Director under Bush until March 2003. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., he was Chief of Staff to then-Governor Bush of Texas. Allbaugh's career in politics began in the 1970s when he was an aide to Henry Bellmon. He worked for the Republican State Committee and was director of organization in Dr. Robert Kamm's 1978 race for the U. S. Senate. He later became Bellmon's campaign manager and chief of staff. He serves on the board of the National Rifle Association.

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Joe Allbaugh's Nephew Killed In Iraq

The nephew of former FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh, longtime Oklahoma political consultant who managed President Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, has been killed in Iraq. Marine Corporal Jeremy Allbaugh, a graduate of Harrah High School, was killed last week when a roadside bomb exploded near the Humvee he was in. The 21-year-old Allbaugh joined the Marine Corps at age 18. His family now lives in Whitehouse, Texas. Family members include his father, Jon, and mother, Jenifer.

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Cleta Mitchell Joins Allbaugh, Brewster, Burtt On National Rifle Association's Board Of Directors

Former Oklahoma legislative leader Cleta (Deatherage) Mitchell has been elected to the board of directors of the National Rifle Association.

Mitchell, an attorney and conservative legal activist in Washington, joins former FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh, former Democratic Congressman Bill Brewster and Shawnee businessman John Burtt on the group's governing body.

Mitchell served in the Oklahoma House from 1976 to 1984. At the time a liberal Democrat, she was chair of the powerful Appropriations and Budget Committee. Since leaving Oklahoma in the early 1990s, Mitchell has represented numerous conservative entities, including the NRA and several national Republican associations, in legal actions.

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The Gadfly On The St. Louis Wall

St. Louis, Missouri ~ It is of considerable delight to me that the liberal gun-grabbers here will be hiding behind their doors this week as I'm joined by 60,000 or so other 2nd Amendment supporters who will gather for the National Rifle Association's annual get-together.

I'm here to join former Oklahoma City broadcaster Cam Edwards, host of the NRA's Internet/Sirius Satellite Radio show, and former Oklahoma City television reporter Ginny Simone of NRA News, as we air 18 hours or so of live coverage of the event. (And I'll no doubt encounter Blackwell native and longtime friend Joe Allbaugh, former FEMA director, a member of the NRA Board of Directors.)

I was surprised at last year's event, in Milwaukee, at the number of Oklahomans who showed up; I suspect there may be more in St. Louis.

This event originally was scheduled for Columbus, Ohio, but the city fathers there adopted an anti-gun ordinance and the NRA powers-that-be said "rain on you" and moved their huge event to this more-friendly city.

If you're among those who will be in St. Louis, look me up at the NRA broadcast booth. If not and you want to partake of the event via the Internet, go to www.NRA.org or catch us on Sirius Patriot Channel 144 on Wednesday from 8-11 p.m. CDT, Thursday Noon-3 p.m., Friday Noon to 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 8-11 p.m.

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