J.B. Poersch
Managing Director, SKDKnickerbocker (since March 2011)
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(DSCC)
A constant voice for Democratic causes and a veteran of Rhode Island politics, Poersch fills the executive director role at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for the 2006, 2008 and 2010 election cycles. For Democrats, the first two went swimmingly as they recaptured the Senate majority; the last one did not as Republicans gained six seats in the 2010 elections, though not the majority.
Before coming to the DSCC, Poersch worked 14 years as a chief of staff for Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and is a well-known political strategist that often took sabbaticals from Reed's office to work elections, including the presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2004.
- Career History: Executive Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (2005-March 2011); Sen. Jack Reed 's chief of staff (1996 to 2005); Rep. Reed's chief of staff (1991 to 1996); Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, New England political director
- Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y.
- Alma Mater: Providence College, B.A., 1984
- DC Office:
Born in Schenectady, N.Y., Poersch's mother taught students with disabilities while his father was the district attorney in Schenectady from 1979 to 1990.
Poersch went to Providence College in Rhode Island, where he first ventured into Ocean State politics. While at Providence, he interned at Sen. Claiborne Pell's (D-R.I) office in Washington, D.C. "I loved the excitement, seeing the names on the plaques. I knew I wanted to come to Washington," said Poersch.
Until the 2010 midterms, Poersch enjoyed continued success as the DSCC executive director, leading the day-to-day operations as George W. Bush's popularity descended in the eyes of many Americans as President Barack Obama's rose.
In the 2006 midterm elections, the DSCC helped replace six Republican senators with Democratic ones, and in 2008, Democrats picked up eight more (not including Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), who switched to the Democratic Party in 2009).
Poersch has spent many years on the Hill, working for Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) for 14 of those years. He has also worked with Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) for four years while Schumer headed the DSCC. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) now heads the DSCC, and will worked closely with Poersch.
Poersch worked in Ohio during Al Gore's presidential run in 2000 and Sen. John F. Kerry's (D-Mass.) presidential bid in 2004.
- Naymik, Mark, "Where Gore abandoned Ohio, Kerry campaign carries on strong," The Plain Dealer, Oct. 5, 2004
- "J.B. Just Couldn't Leave Without Targeting Every Single Seat," The Hotline, Dec. 18, 2008
- Friel, Brian; Victor, Kirk and Barnes, James A., "Senate Leadership," National Journal, June 23, 2007
- Stein, Sam, "DSCC To Go After Republicans On Stimulus," The Huffington Post, Feb. 12, 2009
- Mulligan, John E., "Reed chief of staff heads to Ohio to bolster Kerry bid," The Providence Journal, June 9, 2004
- Drucker, David M. and Duran, Nicole, "The Electoral Battlefront ; Campaign Committees Turn to Vets," Roll Call, Jan. 22, 2007
- Burns, Alex, Politico, Ex-DSCC director at consulting firm, March 7, 2011
- "Kentucky ; DSCC Releases Scathing Review of McConnell Ad," Roll Call, Jan. 17, 2008
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