Subject: Hello boss
From: "arp" <[email-masked]>
To: John D. Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 5 May 2015 19:57:45 +0000

Met faiz today. Loved him. So smart and committed and strategic.  I think he might be perfect to take over the top comms job (political comms, media, web). That job turns over in a couple of months and I think he is better suited for that than the national political director job. Where I need a pol -- to build out c4 ops in the states and in dc.  Ballot initiatives. Hiring of state political directors. Lobbyists. Contract lobbyists.  Etc. 

So couple of questions. 

Faiz for the top comms job -- which would include big c4 media component with online and traditional earned media. Also direct report to me. Can he do it?  Do it well?  Anything to worry about or consider?  

As for national pol director job, what do you think of Karen Johansen?  She's got all the right credentials on building political operations and working on campaigns. She was very low key in my meeting with her. So I walked away wondering if she can hold a room.  I am guessing she can execute brilliantly but it didn't come through in the conversation. Maybe she wasn't selling herself. I'm told she really wants it. 

The job is mostly political strategist but I also need a person who can represent us in high level meetings. With the dc crowd.  Donors. Internal staff conferences. Can she present to the big leagues and hold her own?  Make them walk away impressed? 

And Kiki McLean can clearly do that. She's a great comms strategist but can she also engineer, build out a c4 campaign strategy that ties dc work  to the states and deepen c4 work in the states. 

It might be easier to talk through your musings and if you give me a couple of slots that work for you I can call. Meanwhile I wanted you to noodle over these 3 folks. 

Thanks boss. Appreciate the confidential help 

Anthony 

Sent from my iPhone