Matthew Dowd

Matthew Dowd, exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, is a well-known and respected political consultant, commentator, and strategist. For the past 30 years, he has helped shape strategies and campaigns for CEOs, corporations, foundations, governments, candidates, and presidents. He is currently an analyst with Bloomberg, ABC News, and ABC’s This Week and a columnist for National Journal. With triumphant political campaigns under his belt, he uses his wealth of experience to provide audiences with an insider’s view of the processes and players in American politics today and dishes out shrewd, tried, and true guidance for a better business and a better political brand.

Building a Name-Brand Candidate. Dowd was the chief campaign strategist for Bush-Cheney 2004, where he oversaw all of the campaign’s media, message development, targeting, and research—work that earned him the title of “Pollster/Strategist of the Year” from the bipartisan American Association of Political Consultants. He also served as a major strategist for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful campaign, the senior advisor to the Republican National Committee, and the director of polling and media planning for the 2000 Bush for President Campaign. During the 2000 campaign, he managed all public-opinion efforts, and spearheaded the strategic targeting and execution of the campaign’s almost $150-million advertising budget.

Prior to his work for President Bush, he worked for 25 years for Democratic candidates around the country, starting with former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock. Dowd helped Bullock win two terms, acting as Bullock’s chief campaign consultant. Additionally, he was a member of Democratic Senator Lloyd Bentsen’s senate and campaign staffs. During this time, Dowd was also the president and founding partner of Public Strategies, Inc., an international public-affairs firm.

After a change in heart about the Iraq war, Dowd now considers himself an independent. In early 2011, he advised President Barack Obama after the 2010 midterm elections.

Now Serving Politics and Prose. Dowd can currently be seen as a political contributor on ABC News, and appears as a guest host for This Week. He is coauthor of the wildly popular Applebee’s America: What Political, Business, and Religious Leaders Can Learn from Each Other, which examines the tactics used by two great politicians and a groundbreaking company to thrive in an era of immense change. Dowd also pens a biweekly column called “Common Sense” for National Journal’s website and publications and has written a number of commentary pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, and The Huffington Post.

Educational Background and More. Dowd currently teaches a course at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin on campaigns and communication, and has led similar seminars at Stanford, Harvard, and Yale Universities, among others. He is also is a founding partner of ViaNovo, an international management and communications consulting firm.