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Vincent Harris (political strategist)

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Vincent Harris
Vincent Harris at the Harris Media offices.
Born
Fairfax, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Alma materBaylor University
University of Texas
OccupationCEO of Harris Media
Known forChief Digital Strategist for Senator Rand Paul, Campaign strategist for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Senator Mitch McConnell, Speaker Newt Gingrich[1]
Websitehttps://www.vincentharris.com/

Vincent Harris is an American conservative political strategist and the CEO of Harris Media, an online communications firm based in Miami, Florida.

Harris joined Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign just a few months after it was announced, working as the campaign's official blogger.[2][3] The following year, Harris served as Online Director for Bob McDonnell's successful gubernatorial campaign.[4] McDonnell's online campaign was one of the first major Republican campaigns to embrace social media.[5][6][7]

Harris was active in the 2012 presidential campaign. First he served as the online strategist for Rick Perry.[8] After Perry dropped out of the race and endorsed Newt Gingrich, Harris was hired to help the Gingrich campaign's online and social media operations.[9] In 2012, National Journal named him one of ten Republicans to follow on Twitter.[10]

Political Consultant and digital strategist Vincent Harris with client Mitch McConnell at the Kentucky Derby with their wives.
Vincent Harris with Mitch McConnell at the Kentucky Derby

Harris has held leadership positions in other campaigns. In 2012, Harris led the digital operations of Ted Cruz's successful senate campaign.[11] In 2014, he was the lead digital director of Senator Mitch McConnell's campaign, bringing "a new era of social campaigning for Republicans" through social media integration.[12] Harris was reported to have been hired by the Likud Party to work on the re-election campaign for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2015.[13][14] In 2016, Harris joined Senator Rand Paul's team as the top digital strategist.[15]

Harris's work with Paul was not without criticism. In October 2015, Harris was behind Paul live-streaming an entire day on the campaign trail. By the end of the day, Paul had enough and called it a "dumbass livestream." The comment from Paul brought about a flurry of negative attention to an already slumped campaign.[16]

“I wish I knew [why the campaign was live-streaming an entire day]. I’ve been saying, I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to do this and now we’re doing this.”[17]

— Rand Paul, The Washington Post

In June 2016, POLITICO reported that Donald Trump's presidential campaign had hired Harris and his team to work for the campaign.[18]

Harris is currently attending the University of Texas working towards his PhD.[19]

References

  1. ^ Shane Goldmacher (28 June 2016). "Trump hires Rand Paul's former digital director". Politico. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  2. ^ Huckabee, Mike. Do the Right Thing. Sentinel HC, 2008, p. 195-196.
  3. ^ Webb, Kane. "Arkansas underdog Mike Huckabee makes hay in Iowa," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Aug. 19, 2007.
  4. ^ Finn, Mindy. McDonnell Online Strategy. Nov. 11, 2009.
  5. ^ Hart, Kim. GOP leads media charge. Nov. 18, 2009.
  6. ^ "Bob McDonnell's Impressive Online Campaign for Virginia Governor". epolitics.com. 3 November 2009.
  7. ^ Young, Chris. "Campaigns master new media tools," Richmond Times Dispatch, Oct. 31, 2009.
  8. ^ Delo, Cotton. Promoted Tweets Flourish in U.S. Election Build Up. December 20, 2011.
  9. ^ "Promoted tweets flourish in U.S. election build up". www.marketingmag.ca.
  10. ^ "Ten Republicans to follow on Twitter," by Adam Mazmanian, National Journal, August 27, 2012, Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  11. ^ "Politico", News, Ted Cruz’s secret: Mastering social media, 2012.
  12. ^ The Daily Dot, Mitch McConnell and the Republican meme machine, By Fidel Martinez, May 03, 2013
  13. ^ Brynes, Jesse (2015-02-05). "Top Rand Paul aide working on Bibi's reelection". The Hill.
  14. ^ Kornbluh, Jacob. "Likud Campaign Hires GOP Digital Media Guru Vincent Harris". Jewish Political News & Updates.
  15. ^ Ashley, Killough (18 November 2014). "First on CNN: Rand Paul hires Ted Cruz's digital guru". CNN Politics. CNN. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  16. ^ Feldman, Josh. "Rand Paul Complained About His 'Dumbass' Live Stream While It Was Going On". Mediaite. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  17. ^ Terris, Ben. "I experienced the irresistible torture of watching Rand Paul's campaign livestream". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  18. ^ Goldmacher, Shane. "Trump hires Rand Paul's former digital director". POLITICO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  19. ^ Robert, Moser. "The Man Who Invented the Educated Political Operative?". UT College of Liberal Arts. University of Texas. Retrieved 25 November 2014.[dead link‍]
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