Subject: from the McCain camp
From: "Chris Lu" <[email-masked]>
To: "Jim Messina" <[email-masked]>, [email-masked], "Mike Froman" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:22:03 -0600

This is really a pretty generous offer.  Russ Gerson was going to head up the personnel part of the McCain transition.  (I met him several times when we were discussing the database with PPO, and he seems like a good guy.)  He's offered to sit down with us and provide us with the names that they come up with for potential positions.  At the very least, I'm going to meet with him just to return the courtesy.  But this might be a good way to fill out our slates of bipartisan names.  Let me know if either of you want to join me.  Alternatively, Mike, you could meet with him in NYC and save him the trip down to D.C.  (Looping in John, just as an FYI)

________________________________

From: Russ Gerson [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Sat 11/8/2008 7:49 PM
To: Chris Lu
Subject: RE: Congratulations

Chris,

Thank you for your response.  Yes it indeed has been a difficult few days.  However, I am proud and supportive of our new President-Elect and I am willing to do what I can to help you in your efforts.   

I assembled a great team of mostly private sector professionals  who sacrificed their "real world" lives to work on this project for the last two months.   We focused on the top 125 Cabinet and Agency positions and identified five or so prospects for each role.  We developed bios and "color" on each of the prospects.  We did the same for the top 50 White House roles although I doubt that would be useful to you.  If I can add even a little bit of perspective and a few ideas to the work ahead of you it be a rewarding consolation for the efforts of my team.   I would be pleased to come to DC anytime and take you through the "book" we produced.    Let me know what works for you.  Thursday or Friday would be best for me.

Best,

Russ

   

Russ D. Gerson

CEO

The Gerson Group 

70 East 55th Street, 21st Floor

New York, New York 10022

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The Gerson Group serves as a strategic partner to a select group of leading clients.  We provide executive search, strategic advice, market intelligence and business building solutions. Our team has decades of experience in high-level executive recruiting, as well as advising clients on compensation, strategic acquisitions, capital raising, industry alliances, and providing other consulting services.