Senate Race – Oregon (2008)

In 2008, Nesbitt Research worked for America’s largest labor union to help unseat two-term incumbent Republican Sen. Gordon Smith in one of that year’s most closely watched elections.  Our comprehensive in-person search took us to the offices of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, where we uncovered evidence of Smith’s long record of environmental problems.  We found that his company had repeated environmental sanctions and fines, one for $70,000.

We also scrutinized Smith’s voting record.  In doing so, we exposed the former senator’s habit of flip-flopping on key issues and his overwhelming tendency to side with former President George W. Bush.  Finally, we obtained documentation regarding Smith’s pay and perks, travel expenses and personal and campaign finances, which revealed a long history of earmarks, no bid contracts and questionable pay-to-play relationships.  Armed with our exhaustive research, the labor union conducted a poll and a multi-million dollar ad campaign.  Jeff Merkley won the hard-fought election with 49 percent of the vote. Smith received 46 percent.

Attorney General’s Race – Missouri (2008)

In 2008, Nesbitt Research helped Chris Koster’s team win both a heated three-way Democratic primary and a tight general election for Missouri Attorney General. Koster was a sitting state Senator at the time, and we detailed his legislative record and analyzed his personal financial records, travel records and pay and perks. We examined Koster’s record as a county prosecutor, examining court records and local news sources to paint a full picture of his
successes and failures.

Koster’s team relied heavily on Nesbitt Research for rapid response and earned media, using our analysis of campaign finance records to counter opponents who attacked Koster on the issue. Koster’s team also tapped Nesbitt Research to detail the records of his two primary opponents, one of whom, our research revealed, had taken money from a tobacco store with a history of selling to kids, while voting against anti-smoking measures. This information, combined with Koster’s strong record on crime, gave his team the information it needed to win.

A Senior Executive

In 2006, Nesbitt Research helped Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson’s campaign explore the complex business dealings of Ameritrade’s (now TD Ameritrade) founding family.  We compiled SEC filings, news stories, articles from Lexis-Nexis news databases, civil legal issues from the Cayman Islands to Nebraska, Hoover’s Business records and Dun & Bradstreet records into a comprehensive report on company and family operations.

We detailed the target’s compensation package and compared it to that of the average Nebraskan.  We highlighted the company’s layoffs and subsequent hiring of a new CEO, both of which netted poor results for shareholders and company staff in Nebraska.  After much powerful advertising — some based on our research — Nelson won reelection with 63.9 percent of the vote.

Tennessee Senate Caucus (2007)

In 2007, the Tennessee Senate Democratic Caucus engaged Nesbitt Research to compile a full vulnerability analysis of the candidates running in a Tennessee State Senate special election.  Our investigation of the GOP candidate revealed that he lacked substantial involvement with any of the dozen businesses to which he lent his name, except for a failed restaurant.  We summarized damaging lawsuits against him by former partners who claimed that he oversold his experience, was incompetent at running the business and used racial slurs.  These assertions further proved it was no slip-up that, when asked about a twenty year old DUI, he claimed that he was targeted by black police officers because he was white.  We also discovered that his father held some 300,000 shares in a local candy company when it was bought by the Brach company in 1994, which could have netted the candidates father approximately $6,000,000.  Our work helped Democrat Andrew Berke win 63 percent to 37 percent.

Minnesota Senate Caucus (2006)

In 2006, Nesbitt Research provided 14 research reports on state Senate candidates for the Minnesota Democratic-Farm-Labor Party.  We conducted on the ground research in 10 counties across the state, from the Twin Cities to Brainerd and St. Cloud.  We reviewed attorneys’ case records, highlighting questionable cases and clients, which proved to be a powerful messages late in the campaign.  Our examination of media coverage revealed the extreme right wing ties of a Republican candidate and this information helped sink his bid in a tight race.  Our legislative analysis focused on illustrating inconsistencies between Republican’s rhetoric and their records.  Armed with our research, the DFL beat two incumbent state Senators and won 11 of the 13 races in which we were involved.

Indiana House Caucus (2006)

In 2006, Nesbitt Research conducted extensive due diligence investigations for the Indiana Democratic House Caucus.   We conducted on the ground research in six counties across the state including Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph.  We reviewed public records detailing tax delinquencies, circuit and district court records, bankruptcy court records and traffic violations.  Our investigators reviewed state records in Indianapolis including business license records maintained by the Secretary of State and financial disclosure statements for public officials.  Our legislative analysis highlighted key votes, budget votes, issue scores from interest groups, awards and accolades.  Armed with our research, the Indiana House Democratic Caucus won five of six targeted races.

Virginia State Caucus (2007 & 2009)

In 2007 and 2009, Nesbitt Research provided more than 60 research reports and memos for the Virginia Democratic Party.  We conducted on the ground research from Virginia Beach in the east to southwest Virginia to the urban counties of northern districts.  Using legal research databases and in-person investigations, we visited jurisdictions likely to produce the greatest vulnerabilities on candidates who were practicing attorneys, while cutting time and cost for the Caucus without sacrificing quality.

We found cases where the target represented child support deadbeats, wife-beaters, drug dealers, as well as corporate clients who employed questionable tactics to accomplish their objectives.  Our research of a four-term incumbent Delegate untangled an eight-year-old controversy involving a no-bid contract, his campaign finances, his consulting job and a misuse of public resources to promote cronyism.  In 2007, Nesbitt Research helped Senate Democrats take back the chamber for the first time in a decade and pick up four seats in the House, the largest gain in that chamber since the Watergate scandal.  The 2009 election is in November.

House Race – Michigan (2008)

In 2008, Nesbitt Research worked for Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in his successful bid to unseat three-term incumbent Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg.  We analyzed Peters’ 16-year history as an elected official, and our in-person review of Rochester Hills City Council documents showed that Peters voted to reduce spending by 4.51 percent and to keep the tax levy steady.

Our investigation into Peters’ service as a state representative uncovered a strong record of consumer advocacy, including a vote against a 1995 Credit Reform Act, which would have allowed Michigan lenders to charge up to 250 percent interest.  Peters’ vote against the Act gave him a compelling positive as the economic crisis worsened.  Our investigation of Peters’ tenure at the Michigan Lottery revealed a well-run operation that increased funding to education and cut administrative costs.  Peters won his race against Knollenberg, winning 52 percent of the vote.  Knollenberg received 43 percent.