Situation

In 2000 Republican control of the House was threatened after Michael Forbes, one of the Republicans’ 1994 landslide winners, decided to run as a Democrat. New York CD 1, a seat previously viewed as a safe in Republican hands, became the top priority of Republican Congressional Leaders. As Felix Grucci’s campaign pollster and general consultant, FLA needed to devise a turnaround.

Solution

FLA made a strategic decision to not wait to take on Forbes in the general election, but to take the offensive in the primary by highlighting Forbes’ conservative record. After hearing about a record rated A+ by the Right-to-Life and the National Rifle Association, Democrats rejected Forbes, nominating instead a weaker unknown with little to no campaign funding—enabling Felix Grucci to take that seat back for Republicans, and allowing Republicans to maintain control of the House.