The race for Sen. Kay Hagan’s seat in the U.S. Senate is one of the most watched in the country. Republicans see it as a potential takeover. Democrats see it as a key seat to defend. In this piece, Roll Call profiles Sen. Hagan’s campaign manager, Preston Elliott.
Interviews with former colleagues revealed someone who thinks deeply about management style, has a pleasant demeanor, is extremely organized and has the ability to keep things cool even in the heated world of campaigns.
Martha McKenna, a former DSCC political director, said Elliott will “run through a brick wall to get something accomplished, but he’ll do it with a smile on his face.” Brandon Hall, who managed Reid’s 2010 campaign, passed along a couple of Elliott’s “classic” sayings, including: “If it’s not in a spreadsheet, it doesn’t exist” and “Incompetence doesn’t start at the level below you.”
