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