Guthrie brings in McConnell’s pollster, $600k with 'laser focus'

State Senator Brett Guthrie's (R-Bowling Green) bid for Kentucky's open 2nd Congressional District will be bolstered by the help of an ally with proven success in the Commonwealth and the district.

The campaign announced last week that Jan van Lohuizen, founder of the Texas-based Voter Consumer Research firm, will serve as pollster for their efforts. van Lohuizen is also the long-time pollster incumbent U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), and had previously worked with the retiring 2nd District incumbent, U.S. Rep Ron Lews (R-Cecilia), since he was first elected in 1994. Most significantly, van Lohuizen also was regarded as the "personal pollster" for President George W. Bush.

Guthrie's team will also be joined by Brad Todd, a media strategist who co-founded the firm OnMessage. According to the campaign, Todd will handle television and radio advertising for the race.

Todd previously worked for the successful gubernatorial campaign of Louisiana Republican Bobby Jindal, as well as former Massachussetts Governor Mitt Romney's Republican presidential primary effort, former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele's losing bid to win a U.S. Senate seat, and George W. Bush's presidential campaign, among others.

The two new strategists are an addition to the help of Scott Jennings, who is working as a consultant on the campaign. Jennings previously served in the George W. Bush administration as deputy political director under Karl Rove.

The Guthrie camp packaged the news about their new strategists with the announcement that the campaign has raised $600,000 for its efforts. The figure is a bump from the $454,000 the campaign showed in their last FEC report, which accounted for contributions up to April 30 of this year.

Guthrie's campaign manager, Brian Smith, touted their claimed totals as an advantage over their Democratic general election opponent, state Senator David Boswell (D-Sorgho).

"We are thrilled to have such an enormous fundraising advantage over our opponent, and we will keep up the pressure for the rest of the year. Brett's campaign has remained laser-focused on raising funds, organizing, and building the team necessary for victory this November," said Smith.

According to the last FEC filing, Boswell had $113,500 raised as of April 30, but he also was embroiled in a contested Democratic primary against Daviess County Judge/Executive Reid Haire.

Guthrie faced no primary opposition.

The next FEC report in the race is due July 15.