Media guru Mike Murphy – who ran John McCain’s presidential campaign, but who has little New York experience – is expected to lead Rep. Rick Lazio’s Senate campaign.
Referring to his candidates as “The Meat,” Murphy has a reputation as a political attack dog.
In one campaign, he highlighted the rape of a little girl to brand a rival candidate as weak on crime.
Known for his aggressiveness, Murphy once summed up his approach this way: “Make the charge and let the other guy spend $1 million to explain it.”
He’s got a good record, chalking up at least 18 victories in gubernatorial and Senate races, including Gov. Christie Todd Whitman in New Jersey.
He also worked on George Bush’s 1992 presidential campaign and Bob Dole’s four years later.
The image-making consultant, 37, who dropped out of Georgetown University, comes from a Democratic family in Grosse Point Park, Mich., and is known for his toughness – and his sense of humor. He likes reporters and is comfortable on the Sunday morning talk shows.
Murphy recently found himself in the midst of a huge firestorm after McCain halted his campaign for president.
Just days later, Murphy gave a lengthy interview to the Washington Post in which he trashed his colleagues and took credit for good decisions that others believed McCain had made himself.
Murphy could not be reached for comment.
To pay for Murphy’s commercials, Lazio will have to raise an estimated $10 million to $15 million – he starts with about $3.5 million in his warchest.
Some experts said the money won’t be a problem.
“He’ll have whatever he needs,” said one source. “The Republicans nationally will make this into a major cause, defeating Hillary.”
But a Republican operative sounded more worried.
“It’s still an open question, it’s not going to be easy to raise that kind of money in such a short period of time,” the GOP operative said.
“He’s got to get off to a good start right away, because if he doesn’t, it will be that much harder.”