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Biss hires former OFA managing director to run his campaign

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Illinois

* Press release from Sen. Daniel Biss’ campaign…

Today, Biss for Illinois announced Abby Witt, the former Managing Director of Organizing for America (OFA), as its campaign manager. An Evanston native, Witt was responsible for strategic planning and day-to-day operations of OFA, an organization dedicated to advancing a progressive agenda through grassroots action and training.

“If we want real change and to start solving problems in Illinois, we need to build a movement to take our state back from money and the machine,” said Biss. “Building a bold and progressive grassroots campaign requires an organizer leading us every day, and we got one of the best in Abby Witt.”

Witt has over a decade of experience working with campaigns and progressive causes. Prior to her work organizing at OFA, Witt played several roles in the Obama presidential campaigns and administration from regional field director in key states in 2008 to Director of Political Operations during Obama’s 2012 re-election bid. Most recently, Witt worked with the Chicago Public Schools where she focused on improving the connection between the community and the school district. Witt’s professional background also includes time at the Center for American Progress and the Common Purpose Project.

“Daniel Biss started in politics as a community organizer and understands that real change doesn’t come with the ability to cut a check, but with the ability to organize a community,” said Witt. “I’m honored to join a movement to take our state back from money and the machine, and set us on a new course.”

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 5:45 pm

Comments

Working on the Obama campaign is NOT like a gubernatorial campaign. The Obama campaign had unlimited money, volunteers, and energy. I’d feel better about this if she had other campaign experience, but she doesn’t seem to.

Both Biss and Pritzker are bringing in DC people to run a statewide here. Should be interesting to watch.

Comment by Little Lebowski Urban Achiever Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:06 pm
Little LUA “An Evanston native….”

Comment by Way Northsider Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:15 pm
Going with a bunch of Obama folks didn’t work out so well for Quinn.

Comment by Anonish Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:18 pm
Nothing could have helped Quinn….

Just sayin’.

Comment by Blue Bayou Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:43 pm
If Biss gets momentum and wins the primary, presumably he’ll be able to debate Rauner.

What’s BVR going to say about the issues? He can’t shout Madigan! at every question, or can he?

Biss should wipe the floor with him.

Comment by Blue Bayou Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:44 pm
Evanston native. shocking! Not.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 6:55 pm
==What’s BVR going to say about the issues? He can’t shout Madigan! at every question, or can he==

Rauner would have a huge financial advantage and would absolutely bury him in the media. Those who can afford to set and control the message, have the advantage.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 7:11 pm
Is a ‘progressive’ agenda the same as a super liberal agenda?

Comment by blue dog dem Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 7:47 pm
-Is a ‘progressive’ agenda the same as a super liberal agenda?-

Do any buzzwords have an actual reality-based meaning?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 8:00 pm
Apparently it means in favor of a progressive income tax, which apparently Chris Kennedy is not (nor does he call himself a progressive). I guess that makes him a Quinn Democrat?

Comment by Liberal Elite Monday, Apr 17, 17 @ 11:15 pm
I agree OFA people didn’t help Quinn. Far from it. It’s a totally different game. They alienated and failed to work with local power structures, at least in my case. They are like a cult.

Comment by Curt Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 8:12 am
Curt: Saw the same thing up close and often. They ignored county organizations, didn’t understand the value of boots on the ground and relied on phone banking way too much.

It took some of the old Blago crew to take it on themselves to touch county chairmen and work the local Dems, but it was too late in the process and the OFA got ticked when they found out the old Blago crew was working locals.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 8:24 am
==Going with a bunch of Obama folks didn’t work out so well for Quinn.==

Well, Quinn had a bunch of second- and third-tier OFA folks. Sometimes, just folks who’d gone through OFA training.

Not that Witt is Plouffe and Axelrod either, necessarily.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 8:42 am
OFA had their problems viewing established Dem organizations, at least in Illinois, as part of “the problem” rather than as allies. They seem to be past that mindset now. Amazing how a Trump win has coalesced opponents.

Biss is going all out Progressive for the Primary.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 9:36 am
Biss put out a funny tweet yesterday trolling Pritzker, Kennedy, and Rauner by asking people to match the $25 he could afford to donate to his own campaign.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 9:43 am
Didn’t OFA have that debacle with the mail-in ballots and forgot to check a PO Box? That was a nightmare!

Comment by Miss Marie Tuesday, Apr 18, 17 @ 12:17 pm