Kirk Blalock, a Pioneer for Bush in 2004, is a lobbyist with Fierce Isakowitz & Blalock and the national chairman for Young Professionals for McCain, a group of people age 45 and under who agree to raise $50,000 for McCain's campaign.[1] A former aide to Education Secretary Lamar Alexander and Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour, he joined George W. Bush's White House as a special assistant and deputy director of public liaison, where he was the president's point man for the business community.[2] Before joining the Bush administration he served as manager of public relations for tobacco giant Philip Morris.[3]
Current clients include the Federation of American Hospitals, Ford, MCI, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association and the European Aeronautic Defense & Space Company (EADS).[4] His work for EADS came under scrutiny recently after it was revealed that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had written letters to the Defense Department asking it to reconsider a contracting requirement seen as disadvantageous to EADS. Shortly thereafter, the Defense Department made the requested change, and EADS eventually won the $35 billion contract to manufacture the next generation of in-flight refueling tanker planes.[5] The Government Accountability Office later upheld Boeing's appeal and the project will be rebid.[6] As a bundler, he has raised at least $500,000 for McCain's presidential campaign, according to information released by the campaign.[7]
For a complete look at Kirk Blalock's lobbying activities, please visit the non-partisan Center For Responsive Politics' money-in-politics database.