Biography of Michael Murphy

Murphy has been called a “media master” by Fortune magazine, the GOP’s “hottest media consultant” by Newsweek, and the leader of a “new breed” of campaign consultants by Congressional Quarterly.

Murphy has handled strategy and advertising for over 26 successful senatorial and gubernatorial campaigns, including the successful gubernatorial races of Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, John Engler, Tommy Thompson, Christie Whitman, Dirk Kempthorne and Terry Branstad as well as the successful Senatorial races of Lamar Alexander, Slade Gorton, Spence Abraham, Jeff Sessions, Dirk Kempthorne, Steve Symms, Paul Coverdell, and Larry Pressler.  In 2000, Murphy served as senior strategist for Sen. John McCain’s Presidential campaign.  In 2003 Murphy was senior strategist for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s historic election as Governor of California.

In addition to his campaign work, Murphy advises several Fortune 500 corporations and leading interest groups. He has advised leaders in five foreign countries. He is a founding partner in the Washington DC based public policy management firm of DC Navigators.

Mike Murphy is a frequent commentator in the media. For the 2008 election, Murphy is serving as an analyst on NBC’s Meet the Press with Tim Russert. He also writes and performs radio commentary for NPR’s All Things Considered and has appeared frequently on CNN, MSNBC, ABC’s Nightline, PBS and in many major newspapers. Murphy was born in Detroit, Michigan and attended the Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. In 2001 he was an Institute of Politics Fellow at Harvard's JFK School of Government. Murphy, 45, also works as a writer/producer in the entertainment industry. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. 

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Behind the Curtain in Politics 2008 - A seasoned insider takes the audience on an insightful trip behind the scenes of the coming Presidential campaign.  Based on years of being “in the room” of national politics, Mike Murphy presents a lively and entertaining look at how the campaigns really work, where the campaigns are going and what to look for as the Race for the White House unravels.  In his trademark humorous and insightful style, one of the best successful political consultants in America tells you how politics really works and analyzes the political scene.

Foreign Policy and the Presidential Campaign -Based on well received speech Murphy gave in early 2007 to the International Council at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government, Murphy looks at the realpolitik of the War in Iraq and what it means for the 2008 Presidential Campaign.  In a frank, entertaining and insightful presentation, veteran political advisor Mike Murphy weaves history, politics and an insider’s unique knowledge of politics to walk audiences through the two biggest forces in American political life – the war in Iraq and the race for the White House – in a fascination, entertaining and thought provoking presentation.
 
Marketing Secrets from the Campaign War Room - Veteran Political Ad man Mike Murphy shows how political marketers get 51% market share in a do or die environment of low budgets and skeptical consumers.  The marketer behind Sen. John McCain’s 2000 Straight Talk Express and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s historic run for Governor of California talks polling, positioning, advertising, and marketing strategy in a very funny, insightful and practical presentation.