http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/04/longtime-steele-consultants-al.htmlLongtime Steele Consultants Cut Ties With RNC
By Shira Toeplitz | April 5, 2010 9:37 PM
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's top political advisors announced Monday evening that they are parting ways with the embattled committee following Chief of Staff Ken McKay's dismissal.
Curt Anderson of OnMessage Inc. confirmed in a statement that his firm is ending their relationship with the committee and the chairman, who they advised during his failed 2006 Senate bid in Maryland as well as his campaign to win the RNC chairmanship.
"Ken McKay's departure is a huge loss for the Republican Party. Ken steered the party through very sucessful elections last fall that have given us tremendous momentum. He's a great talent," Anderson said in a statement. "Given our firm's commitments to campaigns all over the country we have concluded it is best for us to step away from our advisory role at the RNC. We have high personal regard for the Chairman and always have; we wish him well."
RNC spokesman Doug Heye confirmed that another one of Steele's top advisors, Blaise Hazelwood, was still working with the committee.
OnMessage also advised the campaigns of Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri (R), for whom McKay served as a top aide. Anderson also served as political director at the RNC when now-Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was chairman. One of OnMessage's other partners, Brad Todd, is a frequently used consultant for GOP House candidates and a top adviser to National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas).