Daschle's Former Campaign Manager in the News

From yesterday's Roll Call:

Seeking to counter an all-out campaign by the White House in support of its proposed overhaul of Social Security, a number of high-powered, predominantly liberal interest groups have banded together to fund a national grass-roots counter-effort run by several former Senate operatives.

Americans United to Protect Social Security, as the group will be known, is being spearheaded by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the AFL-CIO, and two liberal advocacy groups, the Campaign for America’s Future and USAction. Another 200-odd interest groups are also supporting the effort.

The fundraising goal for the campaign is upwards of $40 million. AFSCME has already committed $1 million.

Longtime Democratic campaign operative Steve Hildebrand — who along with fellow operative Paul Tewes will lead the campaign’s strategic planning effort — said the new group is united by a concern that “seniors in this country and future retirees under the Bush plan would incur serious benefit cuts.”

The formation of the new coalition — and the decision to hand its reins to Hildebrand and Tewes — is the latest sign that the fight over Social Security will resemble a big-money, high-profile political campaign along the lines of the 2004 presidential election.

Chuck Loveless, director of legislation at AFSCME, said that “for us to be competitive it is important for us to have a large umbrella coalition. We also are going to run a campaign.”

One senior Senate Democratic aide echoed that sentiment.

“Democrats need a consistent, solid and coordinated operation opposing the president’s plan and the presidential-style campaign he is using to advance it,” the aide said. “To the extent this organization brings that type of focus and energy, it is a very good thing.”

Hildebrand was even more blunt. Republicans, he said, “are already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, and we are going to beat them.”

Hildebrand and Tewes, both of whom specialize in field work, recently formed a new political consulting firm that will serve as the nerve center of Americans United to Protect Social Security. The firm will be known as Hildebrand Tewes.

In the 2004 cycle, Hildebrand managed the unsuccessful re-election campaign of South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle (D); Tewes served as the political director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Hildebrand will be based out of Sioux Falls, S.D., while Tewes will set up shop in Washington, D.C.