Staff and the race for Governor

I was interviewed for today's edition of Gongwer, a subscription-only daily newsletter covering politics and government in Michigan.

It was a good idea for an article, taking an inside look at the importance of campaign staff and who candidates for governor have chosen to surround themselves with.  Here's a sampling:

STAFF AN UNHERALDED, BUT CRITICAL, PIECE IN GOV. RACE

Their names may not be on the ballot, but when voters make their choice for governor this year, their choice in many ways is a referendum on the work done by the staff for each of the eight major candidates for governor.

With the deadline to file their signatures a week away, the campaigns have assembled their teams, which will manage the organizations charged with getting the candidates to victory in the August 3 primary, and then, the November general election. And this year, with the first open seat race for governor since 2002, there are many more opportunities to work on a gubernatorial campaign.

And,

Matt Resch of Resch Strategies and a veteran of Republican campaigns for more than a decade in Michigan, said a good staff should be able to take the distractions of a campaign away from the candidate, who can focus on getting out his or her message.

"(Candidates) have to watch every word and be prepared," he said. "And not have to worry about whether petition signatures are being gathered or whether a press release got out on time or making sure that donations are collected and recorded correctly."

Mr. Resch said there is no formula in assembling a good staff in terms of trusted longtime hands, new blood or hired guns. "It comes down to what formula allows the candidate to perform best," he said.