Jim Crounse

Jim Crounse is one of the top Democratic direct mail consultants in the U.S. He has produced political direct mail for over 20 years, including dozens of high profile national campaigns and for candidates such as Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Bill Richardson.

Jim Crounse, a Partner at the Mack/Crounse Group, is one of the pre- eminent direct mail consultants in the Democratic Party. In his 30-year political career serving on Capitol Hill and as a consultant, Jim has helped elect many of the key figures in the Democratic Party.

In 2008 Jim was the firm’s lead consultant for the Obama for President campaign, directly responsible for direct mail in Virginia and Florida, and provided creative direct mail that was produced in all of the swing states.

Jim’s more notable direct mail clients over the years have included Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Senator Max Baucus of Montana, Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, former Congressman and now Chief of Staff to President Obama — Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Congressman Baron Hill, Congressman Brad Ellsworth and Congressman André Carson of Indiana, Congressman Leonard Boswell of Iowa, Congressman John Hall and Congressman Steve Israel of New York, Congressman Tim Walz of Minnesota, Congressman Bob Filner of California, and Congressman Jim Matheson of Utah.

He has created direct mail programs for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), as well as many international unions and progressive institutions.

As part of the DCCC-IE program in 2008 — Jim and the MCG team produced direct mail that defeated Congressman Chris Shays, won Republican-held open seats in Arizona and New Mexico, held a hotly contested Democratic open House seat in Alabama, and helped re-elect Democratic freshman members in Arizona and New Hampshire.

Jim is the only Democratic direct mail consultant on the national level to have served as Chief of Staff to both a U.S. senator and congressman. He served as Chief of Staff to Senator Max Baucus of Montana, from 1994 to 1995, and Chief of Staff to Congressman Peter Hoagland of Nebraska from 1989 to 1991.

Jim came to Washington, DC, in 1987 to work for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as N.E. Political Director, serving under then-National Campaign Manager Rahm Emanuel.

Previously, Jim had a political consulting firm in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. There he produced direct mail, TV, and radio ads for Democratic candidates and grassroots campaigns. He also worked for the Nebraska State Legislature — the only unicameral, nonpartisan legislature in the country — and served as the Director of the Nebraska Film and Television Office.

Jim is frequently called upon to speak on political strategy and direct mail to campaign management students, candidates and the House Democratic Caucus. Jim taught direct mail at George Washington University in 1997 and was recognized by Campaigns & Elections as a “Rising Star in Politics” in 1998.

Jim graduated from Central High School in Omaha, Nebraska, has a B.A. from the University of Nebraska/Lincoln, and a J.D. from Creighton University in Omaha.

Jim is married to Patsy Crounse, and they live in Alexandria, VA.

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