Paul Johnson: Manager of 2 Presidentials, 8 Winning Senate Races, DSCC Exec Dir, Senate Chief & More

Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Paul Johnson's resume reads like it should cover three careers...managing multiple presidentials, manager/general consultant on twelve Senate races, DSCC Executive Director over two cycles, and several years on Capitol Hill as a Senate Chief of Staff. In this conversation, we talk his roots in Minnesota politics, rising up the ranks through Mondale '84 to manage Tom Daschle's first Senate race in 1986 and then Bob Kerrey's first Senate race in 1988...then staying part of the Kerrey world for the next 20+ years. And eventually managing presidential campaigns for both Senator Bob Graham and General Wes Clark - plus why Paul has been based out of Shreveport, LA for the past 20 years. This is a great discussion through a fascinating career with one of the most accomplished operatives in Democratic politics.
IN THIS EPISODE

Paul grows up in the Twin Cities, inspired by the political tradition of Minnesota Democrats...
The one time Paul ran for office in his own right...

Paul leads a Minnesota brigade to help Walter Mondale in the '84 Iowa Caucus...

Paul manages Tom Daschle's first US Senate race in 1986...

Paul talks the political impact of the "farm crisis" of the 1980s...

Paul connects with Bob Kerrey in the 1988 cycle and stays part of his political world for 20+ years...

Paul breaks down the missteps and missed opportunities from the Bob Kerry '92 presidential...

Paul speaks to the legacy of political courage shown by Bob Kerrey...

Paul's approach as a Senate Chief of Staff on the Hill...

A little color on some of the famed friction between President Clinton and Senator Kerrey...

Paul's memories of running the DSCCC during the 96 and 98 cycles...

Paul goes deep on the boom and bust of the Wes Clark '04 Presidential campaign...

An important lesson learned from his time managing Senator Bob Graham's '04 presidential...

The Paul Johnson "3 Ms" of what makes an effective campaign manager...

Why Paul has been based out of Shreveport, LA for 20+ years...

AND...318 area codes, 441 AD, Jim Abdnor, agrarian movements, B+ trip notes, background noise, Scotty Baesler, Brent Blackaby, Jerry Brown, Jim Bunning, Larry Cohen, Susan Collins, Jim Crounse, Jim Crow, Howard Dean, Ron DeSantis, John Edwards, Russ Feingold, Don Foley, Jane Fonda, the Fritz Blitz, going batshit, Grandmother's Restaurant, Gary Hart, Hubert Humphrey, Larry Huynh, Dave Karnes, John Kerry, Carl Levin, Gene McCarthy, meat slicers, Carol Moseley Braun, Sheila Murphy, Ben Nelson, Parade magazine, party mergers, Rudy Perpich, press release routes, Ronald Reagan, Jody Severson, Bob Smith, soft money, Harold Stassen, Pete Stavrianos, Dick Swett, Bob Torricelli, Paul Tsongas, WCCO, Winnebagos, Debra Winger & more!