THE HILL: Democrats Brace for GOP Attacks on Harris

Democrats are leery about the prospect of Vice President Harris putting out anything close to a fleshed-out agenda— preferring questioning eyes to remain on the former president — not the current VP.

Here’s the Democrats’ work around: Continuing Harris’s atmospheric campaign — albeit one with limited policy substance — as a referendum on former President Trump. 

Speaking with The Hill, ROKK Co-Founder and GOP strategist Ron Bonjean weighs in on this strategy and how it foils Trump’s very own.

ROKKing the boat to share something exciting! ROKKStar John LaBombard, our Senior Vice President, has been named to the Class of 2024 PRNEWS People of the Year for being a Public Affairs Leader!

Sharp, strategic and politically savvy, John LaBombard has an effortless and innate talent for public affairs, honed over years of leading communications for some of Washington’s most high-profile, red-state Democratic Senators. 

John has served as a senior communications advisor on several significant Congressional debates over the past decade — from national legislative initiatives to Supreme Court nominations — for Senators Jon Tester of Montana, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. 

He is the kind of strategist anyone seeks in a high-pressure environment. John always keeps his cool and can see around corners, both recognizing and neutralizing potential vulnerabilities before they become crises and designing strategies that maximize success.

Congratulations and thank you for all of your amazing contributions!

ABOUT PRNEWS:

PRNEWS is the largest event and digital media brand providing business intelligence and face-to-face experiences to the PR and Communications industry. Find the full list of 2024 Class of People of the Year honorees here.

Distraction or advantage? 

With eyes on Harris and her presidential bid, the public cannot seem to look away from Doug Emhoff’s cheesy dad jokes and wife superfandom. More curious about Emhoff than ever, a viral photo of 20-year-old Doug smiling slyly has overtaken the internet and so has the 2021 video of him blowing kisses to Harris. 

The question remains, has Doug’s buzz worthiness furthered Kamala’s newfound momentum? 

ROKK Co-Founder and Partner Rodell Mollineau took the TIME to reveal his thoughts on Harris’ husband, and gave a comparison to Trump’s spouse, Melania Trump.

Senate Republicans are red hot as concern mounts that former President Trump is tanking their chances to take back the majority in a few short months…

Their take: Vice President Harris is blazing her way into the 2024 elections, taking most of the oxygen, while Trump fails to breathe life back into his must-win voter base.  

Our take: Heard first in The Hill, ROKK Co-Founder and seasoned strategist Ron Bonjean  provides his perspective on how Trump can narrow his focus and rally the support of independent voters before time runs out!

The Democratic National Convention is the main calendar item for this week, and key allies to Kamala Harris say she couldn’t be in a better position. 

Why? Making quick work of the mere weeks since she entered the race, Harris has both consolidated a hefty voter base but has also packed arenas. 

What does this mean for the Harris Walz campaign come November? ROKK Co-Founder and Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau gave The Hill his take on whether this new enthusiasm will translate into votes. 

ROKK Solutions just received some exciting news, and now we’re sharing it with you – ROKK’s latest research, “Navigating AI,” is now a finalist for 2024 PRNEWS Platinum Awards for External Publications!  

Our substantive research provides new insight on the fast-evolving AI terrain, finding that voters are skeptical of government oversight and the probability of implementing effective legislation.  

MORE ABOUT OUR RESEARCH: 

Interested in learning more about AI trends and voter perceptions? Read our other findings in our publication, “Navigating AI”.

MORE ABOUT PRNEWS PLATINUM AWARDS:

The PRNEWS Platinum Awards represent the best of the best – those who have reached the pinnacle of innovation and industry knowledge.

First— a tax cut for hotel and restaurant workers in Nevada, the swing state where Donald J. Trump proposed exempting tips from taxes. 

Then— a call to slash the corporate tax rate in front of an audience of chief executives gathered in Washington.

Now— a proposal to end Social Security tax, which could be a boon for retirees, one of the most politically important groups in the United States.

What does this mean for the country? For answers, ROKK Co-Founder and Partner Ron Bonjean shared his insights with The New York Times on Trump’s latest tax take and the temptation it poses for key voters. 

PRNEWS recently hosted the second installment of its three-seminar digital learning series. The seminar, Social Media for PR Campaigns, gave the audience a breakdown of how to leverage social media to elevate their PR strategy. ROKK’s Executive Vice President of Digital and Paid Media, Rachel Winer, hosted a session titled Social Media Metrics – Beyond Fluff and Vanity, where she taught professionals how to move beyond surface-level metrics to showcase meaningful data that truly impresses clients.

Winer introduced the audience to RADIUS, a proprietary tool offered by ROKK Solutions. RADIUS encompasses a suite of unique data programs that design and drive highly effective campaigns for clients.

As more social media platforms become mainstream and existing ones evolve, it’s important to have a specific strategy for each social media channel. Winer reminded the audience to stay up-to-date on each platform’s analytics capabilities. As newer platforms like TikTok and Threads continue to grow, understanding these updates will allow PR specialists to give their clients the best results.

Learn more about key takeaways from the full seminar here.

ROKK Co-Founders and Partners Rodell Mollineau and Ron Bonjean joined Kim Sample, President of PR Council, for their third installment of “What’s Next is Now” AI Speaker Series to discuss regulation, misinformation and disinformation and what to expect this election year. 

“We know that there is no way for the government or private sector to opt out of AI, but we also know that legislation is at a standstill,” said Bonjean. “We expect that the next Congress will be the ones who work on AI regulation; however, there could be an action-forcing event that makes Congress act.”  

“Misinformation and disinformation are not new to elections,” said Mollineau. “Now the biggest looming issue is AI-generated deep fakes. While the federal government has yet to act, states are taking the lead on regulation to combat the issue.”

The conversation shifted to discussing ROKK’s research, conducted in partnership with Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, about voter views on AI. Overall, voters on both sides of the aisle are apprehensive about generative AI and have more confidence in tech companies than federal and/or state government officials as having the expertise needed to lead public-private partnerships – creating an opening for companies to position themselves as credible thought leaders and play an active role in shaping legislation. 

“Our research indicates that Americans are looking to consumer brands as the trusted voice,” said Bonjean. “Our clients have the opportunity to build on that trust with transparency.” 

Learn more about how ROKK can help companies navigate and shape AI policy. 

The PR Council (PRC) is the only U.S.- based association dedicated to agencies with public relations offerings. PRC strengthens the recognition and role of public relations firms, serves as an authoritative source of information and sets standards for the industry. ROKK Co-Founder and Partner Rodell Mollineau is proud to serve on their Board of Directors. 

President Joe Biden has announced he will no longer seek reelection and will endorse Vice President Kamala Harris instead. ROKK Partner and democratic strategist Kristen Hawn spoke with Fox News Media about the historic decision. Listen to the full conversation here.