Mark Putnam, Democratic media strategist and founder of Putnam Partners, has helped elect 11 Governors, 10 Senators, and dozens of members of Congress. In this conversation, Mark talks growing up in Alaska, his unconventional path to working in political media, early races on which he cut his teeth, helping elect Presidents Obama and Biden, how to think about “viral” ads, some of his favorite spots, and smart insights from one of the most successful careers in political media.
IN THIS EPISODE…
Mark talks what it’s like growing up in Alaska…
Mark remembers the tragic disappearance of of Congressman Nick Begich…
How Mark thinks of Alaska politics 101…
A memorable meeting a teenage Mark had with Senator Ted Stevens…
Mark explains the connection between his college major in Molecular Biology and what he does now…
How Geraldine Ferraro helped a novice Mark get into political consulting…
The iconic political admakers Mark apprenticed under…
The 1986 Senate race Mark first put his stamp on…
The losing 1994 Governor’s race where Mark learned an important lesson…
Mark’s thoughts on using humor in political advertising…
Mark’s opportunity to help elect a friend a state Attorney General…
Mark’s rules of thumb on videos going viral…
What Mark thinks is unique about a Putnam Partners ad…
Mark talks through the media behind Heidi Heitkamp’s upset Senate win in 2012…
Mark makes a believer out of a skeptical Governor Bill Richardson on an out-of-the-box idea…
The two moments Mark remembers most from working for the 2008 Obama campaign…
Mark helms “the most expensive political ad ever made”…
Mark’s role in the 2020 pro-Biden Unite the County Super PAC ads…
Mark tells a wild story from a local New Jersey race when he was repeatedly threatened for trying to do the job…
Mark talks what he’s learned about running a business and building a team…
Mark’s weirdest work habit…
Mark’s advice for the next generation of political media consultants…
AND…August releases, David Axelrod, Mark Begich, Joe Biden, Randy Bryce, Ken Burns, Chuck Chvala, Jim Clyburn, the consideration set, Chancy Croft, Jeremiah Denton, Michael Dukakis, Ellis Island, Carter Eskew, Peter Fenn, forcefields of appeal, gold Cadillacs, Al Gore, Davis Guggenheim, Bob Graham, Mike Gravel, The Great Alaska Earthquake, John Gregg, Jay Hammond, MJ Hegar, Tom King, Bill Knapp, Tony Knowles, MTV, Jim Margolis, Mitch McConnell, Amy McGrath, Steve Murphy, Nordstrom, Tom Ochs, Ozzy Osbourne, Mike Pence, the Philadelphia, David Plouffe, Hal Riney, Joe Salazar, Terry Sanford, Steve Schale, Richard Shelby, Paul Simon, Tony Soprano, Bob Squier, Mark Squier, Tommy Thompson, Donald Trump, the valiant effort reel, Phil Weiser, John Zaccaro, Laura Zaccaro, & more!