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Staffing up, Lentz readies a change of campaign manager
CORRECTION APPENDED (See bottom)
As he staffs up considerably for the homestretch before Election Day, Democrat Bryan Lentz is getting ready to switch campaign managers.
Vincent Rongione, who has run Lentz’s 7th District congressional campaign for more than seven months, is transitioning to a general consulting role. Rongione told pa2010.com he’s making the switch because he’s moving out of Pennsylvania for personal reasons. Kevin McTigue, who was recently hired as political director, will be taking over as campaign manager, while Rongione will continue to play a role in political strategy and big-picture public relations.
The change in leadership comes at a key juncture for the campaign, with Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi set to visit Philadelphia to help Lentz, a state Representative, bolster his fundraising against Republican Pat Meehan in the state’s most competitive House race. Meehan has outpaced Lentz in the money race even as Lentz has won some news cycles with an aggressive PR style, and the Democrat now needs to win over some of the party faithful who remain bearish on his chances.
But Rongione insisted the transition would be smooth, and that no change of strategy is in the works.
“There should be no change,” he said. “Kevin is our political director, he’s transitioning to take over some of the day to day operations, and we’re full steam ahead. We’re doing everything exactly the same as we would have been doing before. The mandate here is to continue on the track that we’ve laid. We’re not changing directions or doing anything like that.”
McTigue was a field director for Bill Foster in Illinois, when Foster won the 2008 special election to replace former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. He was also a national advance staffer for Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008, and ran the Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign in Delaware County in 2006.
“Kevin was here on the ground for six weeks before it was even an idea to transition him over, so he’s very well integrated into the operation,” Rongione said. “It’s not a situation where we’re undertaking dramatic changes.”
The campaign also recently hired Bob Finkelstein to handle day-to-day press. Finkelstein, a former Bloomberg News reporter, was communications director on Brian Grady’s campaign for Philadelphia District Attorney. About five field organizers and a volunteer coordinator have also joined the campaign, which recently moved out of its tiny Swarthmore office into larger Springfield headquarters. As part of the leadership change, finance director Aubrey Montgomery and longtime Lentz field operative Michael Eagle are being elevated to deputy campaign managers, remaining in charge of the same portfolios.
Correction: This article originally misspelled the surname of Lentz’s new campaign press aide. He is Bob Finkelstein, not Finklestein.
July 13, 2010 at 11:09 am
Tags: Bryan Lentz, PA-7, Pat Meehan
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sick of it all
Jul 13th, 2010
I think rongione should have moved on right after primary…need the national presence now-bring in the bigger guns and blow meehan away!
P. O'Neill
Jul 13th, 2010
The Lentz campaign is bleeding and the staff are leaving like rats off a sinking ship. Dan, you’ve tried your best to put a nice spin on it for Lentz. Have they given you a title yet for the campaign?
s. d. willy
Jul 13th, 2010
c’mon dan what’s the real reason the guy left???? Let’s be serious. You want people to think you are fair then ask the tough questions. Oh and what’s the spin going to be when Lentz gets out raised by at least 200k??? Will you be buying that 5 day old tomato as well???? He will be running away from Pelosi the minute she leaves town. She is toxic and the damage he will suffer will overcome the amount he raises times two!!!!
C Guiney
Jul 13th, 2010
Sorry to burst your bubble guys – but I was in the Lentz office today. Vince and Kevin are currently working very well side by side. Nobody is ‘bailing ship’.
To the contrary, Lentz is adding staff and volunteers steadily, and Vince’s continuation as a consultant will serve Lentz well.
sick of it all
Jul 13th, 2010
not uncommon to switch staff after primary and heading into general election.
s. d. willy
Jul 13th, 2010
oh ok thanks for the update. I’ll be waiting for the tooth fairy. santa is bringing her later tonight
1994 Again
Jul 13th, 2010
Lentz could hire James Carville and it wouldn’t matter. The GOP will win back this seat and many others like it around the country. Lentz will be a victim of the anti-Obama tidal wave this fall.
Mookie Wilson
Jul 13th, 2010
Bob Finkelstein is a good pick up. I have seen some of his work: good political mind, ace reporter, should be a nice fit.
PoliticsPA: Meehan internal shows name ID has him ahead of Lentz | Politics PA
Jul 13th, 2010
[...] on people – not polls,” said Lentz spokesperson Vincent Rongione, who until recently had been the candidate’s campaign manager. “Releasing skewed internal numbers is exactly the kind of political trick that voters are [...]
P. O'Neill
Jul 13th, 2010
Well, Colleen, based upon the 21 point lead that Meehan appears to have and the fundraising edge, it appears all that activity you saw at the Lentz headquarters is really just people cleaning out their desks. Don’t you think that Vince has done the same polling and seen the same result? Tha’s why he is getting out (or being kicked out)!
C Guiney
Jul 13th, 2010
P-
Since this will be such an easy race, maybe you and the gang should take off the rest of the summer…
aajane
Jul 13th, 2010
Dan,
This is interesting information. I think, though, that the new press guy spells his name Finkelstein not Finklestein.
Dan Hirschhorn
Jul 13th, 2010
Hey Jane,
Right you are. A correction has been appended.
Thanks so much for looking out, as always.
Dan Hirschhorn
Anonymous
Jul 13th, 2010
I think that Patty is in trouble. Lentz has put together a really strong team. Rongione is a solid press guy, so keeping him as a consultant is important. I never heard of McTigue, but it looks like he has a lot of experience with ties to Delaware County. Montgomery has had a lot of success with many Democrats in SE PA and has been with Lentz for a while. Eagle ran Lentz’s first state house campaign and has become somewhat of a field guru, building an army of volunteers over the years to prepare for a possible Congressional run.
debt to high
Jul 13th, 2010
Lentz is in trouble. Pat is outraising and out working him. He talk to the people where Lentz thinks he is to good for the people. Lentz is buddies with Pelosi and Biden and the public want someone to stand up against their looney idea not rubber stamp them. It looks to me like people are bailing on Lentz’s campaign. He will get the gift of Nancy and Joe in a few weeks and then they will pull out because Lentz will not see any traction and Pat will open a 25 point lead and poor Lentz will run out of money.
pa2010: Lentz campaign shakes up staff | Politics PA
Jul 14th, 2010
[...] Read the complete pa2010 story here: [...]
s. d. willy
Jul 14th, 2010
why did he leave????
s. d. willy
Jul 14th, 2010
didn’t like the ice cream at carvel???not enough parking at the new hq when outback has a big night???
Meehan internal poll: Meehan 47% Lentz 26%… | GrassrootsPA
Jul 14th, 2010
[...] Lentz with campaign manager change… [...]
P. Lombardo
Jul 14th, 2010
Lentz is doing a great job proving he’s not a rubberstamp Dem. Fund raiser with Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, and then on top of it hiring an Obama guy to take over his campaign when his current top man bailed on the sinking ship. If you guys think Washington politics are dirty, you should see Chicago/Illinois politics. I used to live there and if there’s one thing that will make Lentz ready to cheat taxpayers out of our hard earned money in DC, it’s practicing with an Illinois/Obama/Big-Dem professional. Can’t wait until the public finally realizes who this guy is (read the polls article), what he stands for and wipe the floor with his “Progressive” a** in Nov.
P. Lombardo
Jul 14th, 2010
Oh, good job Dan. I like this article
David Diano
Jul 16th, 2010
I’m not positive, but I think Kevin may have been the head of the delaware county coordinated campaign in 2006, for Rendell and Casey and Sestak.
If so, he’s a great addition to the team, with experience in delco.
dan the plumber
Jul 20th, 2010
I travel through the county doing residential repair and always get the pulse of the voters. This one is going to Meehan by a lot not Lentz fault though. This area is hurting for work and not just these infrastructure jobs that are doing well to keep septa and some construction workers working. but here the store fronts and dying. and thats key for Delco. This feeling is from Edgemont to Marcus Hook, thru Chester to Sharon Hill to Radnor