Pike hires consultants for congressional race

Doug Pike, a former Inquirer editorial writer, today announced the hiring of three top-flight Democratic consulting firms for his campaign for the 6th District U.S. House seat in suburban Philadelphia. That is the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R.,Pa.), who is exploring a campaign for governor in 2010, and the district has long been a Democratic target because voting trends for president and statewide candidates, as well as voter registrations, are favorable to the party.

Pike hired The Campaign Group - Neil Oxman, Doc Sweitzer and J.J. Balaban - to produce his radio and television ads and provide overall strategic advice. Based in Philadelphia, the firm elected Gov. Rendell, Mayor Nutter and more than 40 other governors, senators and representatives across the country.

Philadelphia native Jef Pollock, president of the Global Strategy Group, will be Pike's pollster. Pollock's firm is the pollster for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and did polling for former Vice President Al Gore, among others.

Pike also hired MSHC Partners for direct mail and Internet operations.

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