Jim Margolis
Jim Margolis in 2022.jpg
Born
James David Margolis

(1955-04-30) April 30, 1955 (age 68)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOberlin College
OccupationPolitical consultant
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseVicki Seyfert-Margolis

James David Margolis (born April 30, 1955) is an American political consultant and communications executive based in Washington, DC. He served as an advisor to Barack Obama in both his 2008[1] and 2012[2] campaigns for the White House. Margolis is a partner at GMMB, Inc.,[3] a strategic communications firm and advertising agency.[4][5] Previously he served as chief of staff to US Senator Kent Conrad,[6] chief of staff to US Congressman Howard Wolpe,[7] and Deputy Director of Communications for Vice President Walter Mondale's presidential campaign.[8]

Early life

Margolis is the fifth child of Frederick Margolis,[9] a pediatrician,[10] film producer,[11] and inventor,[12] and Elizabeth Rieger,[13] a social worker. He was born in Albuquerque, NM when his father served in the US Public Health Service directing health care on a Navajo Indian reservation.[14] Margolis grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, attended Kalamazoo public schools and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School (1973). During his middle school years he became active in politics and elections.[15] Margolis received his BA from Oberlin College in 1978 with a double major in Government and Communications Studies.[16]

Political career

After graduating from college, Margolis was hired to manage the congressional campaign of Howard Wolpe. Wolpe defeated Republican incumbent Garry Brown in November 1978[17] and Margolis came to Washington as Wolpe's chief of staff.[7]

In 1984, Margolis became the state director for Mondale's presidential primary campaign in Illinois.[18] Next he served as state director for Mondale in North Carolina,[19] and then in the general election became Deputy Director of Communications at the national headquarters in Washington.[8] Margolis joined GMMB (then Greer & Associates) in February 1985.[19] In 1986 he led the strategy and advertising efforts for Senators Brock Adams and Kent Conrad.[20] In January 1987, Margolis took a leave of absence from his firm and became Conrad's first chief of staff.[21][22] In January 1988 he returned to GMMB.[23]

In US presidential politics, Margolis worked as deputy director of communications for Walter Mondale in 1986.[24] In 1992, the firm was the lead agency for President Clinton's presidential campaign.[25][26] Margolis served as a strategist and media consultant for Senator John Kerry's 2004 presidential primary campaign.[8] During the 2004 Democratic primaries, "Margolis' commercials featuring Senator John Kerry's crewmates from Vietnam recalling his heroism were credited with helping him win the nomination," according to The New York Times.[27] He left the Kerry race after the nomination was effectively won, after a dispute with Robert Shrum, another media consultant.[28] In the 2008 and 2012 campaigns, Margolis was an advisor to Barack Obama.[29][27] Margolis co-produced Obama’s two national conventions in 2008 and 2012.[30]

References

  1. ^ Cillizza, Chris. "Margolis Joins Obama's Campaign". 27 April 2007. The Washington Post.
  2. ^ Rutenberg, Jim (26 November 2011). "Team Obama Gears Up for 2012". 21 November 2011. The New York Times.
  3. ^ "GMMB".
  4. ^ Cillizza, Chris (27 April 2007). "Margolis Joins Obama's Campaign". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ Dobbins, Elizabeth (15 February 2013). "OTC with Jim Margolis, OC '78, and Senior Advisor to President Obama". Oberlin Review. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Congressional Record, U.S. Senate, Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, Farewell to the Senate". C-SPAN. 12 December 2012.
  7. ^ a b Estepa, Jessica (27 October 2011). "Former Michigan Rep. Howard Wolpe Dies at Age 71". Roll Call.
  8. ^ a b c Teinowitz, Ira (12 May 2003). "The Player: Kerry camp taps Margolis to devise media strategy". Advertising Age.
  9. ^ "Margolis was a doctor who made a difference". Kalamazoo Gazette. 12 February 1991.
  10. ^ Mah, Linda (10 February 1991). "Dr. Margolis, a gentle giant among children, dies at 75". Kalamazoo Gazette.
  11. ^ "'Ounce of Prevention' Is Doctor's Theme". Reading Eagle. 26 August 1976.
  12. ^ "Margolis". Encore Magazine. September 1990.
  13. ^ Spencer, Steven (23 April 1955). "They're Saving Lives in Navajo-Land". The Saturday Evening Post.
  14. ^ "MARGOLIS, Elizabeth Hays Rieger Age 95 of Kalamazoo". Kalamazoo Gazette. 18 December 2011.
  15. ^ Axelrod, David (5 February 1984). "Organizers reflect their candidates". Chicago Tribune.
  16. ^ Dobbins, Elizabeth (15 February 2013). "OTC with Jim Margolis, OC '78, and Senior Advisor to President Obama". Obelin Review. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  17. ^ "Archive: Howard Wolpe profile from 1992 Kalamazoo Gazette (with photo gallery)". Kalamazoo Gazette. 13 December 1991.
  18. ^ Axelrod, David (5 February 1984). "Organizers reflect on their candidates". Chicago Tribune.
  19. ^ a b Gailey, Phil; Warren Weaver Jr. (9 February 1985). "BRIEFING; The Mondale Team Today". The New York Times.
  20. ^ "Consultants Scorecard". Campaigns and Elections: 33–40. November–December 1986.
  21. ^ "Congressional Record, U.S. Senate. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, Farewell to the Senate". C-SPAN. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  22. ^ James, Kathleen (13 September 1987). "Hill Climbers". Roll Call. p. 19.
  23. ^ "Conrad's staff chief is retiring". Grand Forks Herald. 5 August 1987.
  24. ^ Teinowitz, Ira (12 May 2013). "The Player: Kerry camp taps Margolis to devise media strategy". Advertising Age.
  25. ^ Anderson, Heather (8 April 2011). "Obama's senior adviser to discuss political advertising at Dole Institute event". KU News.
  26. ^ Peters, Jeremy W.; Williams, Josh; Corasaniti, Nick (7 May 2012). "The Methods of Margolis". The New York Times.
  27. ^ a b Peters, Jeremy W. (9 May 2012). "Aggressive Ads for Obama, at the Ready". The New York Times.
  28. ^ Lizza, Ryan (3 May 2004). "Rope-a-Dope". New Republic. Retrieved 3 May 2004.
  29. ^ Peters, Jeremy W.; Williams, Josh; Corasaniti, Nick (7 May 2012). "The Methods of Margolis". The New York Times.
  30. ^ Rutenberg, Jim (September 3, 2012). "Democrats Say U.S. Is Better Off Than 4 Years Ago". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
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