Silicon Valley’s top political consultants have turned a relatively unknown Democratic candidate into a viable challenger for congressperson. Two of the brains behind President Barack Obama’s 2008 triumph, Steve Spinner and Jeremy Bird, have chosen to help Ro Khanna topple long-time congressman Mike Honda.
It’s next to impossible to unseat a member of Congress in the same party, as roughly 90 percent of the House of Representatives are re-elected.
Campaign Chair Spinner and Bird of 270 Strategies have helped Khanna secure millions in donations from some of Silicon Valley’s leading figures, such as Sean Parker and Marissa Mayer. Eventually, their work landed Khanna the endorsement of major area newspapers. Despite the massive support, Khanna still trailed Honda by double digits for many months.
Above: An infographic from Ro Khanna’s website
But now a recently released poll from CBS’s KPIX 5 shows Khanna in a dead heat with the incumbent (Honda with 37 percent, and Khanna at 35 percent). It’s difficult to overstate how impressive this is.
In the beginning, getting Khanna anywhere close to unseating Honda seemed like fantasy. So at this point, Team Obama have already proven that they are a considerable force in Silicon Valley.
We’ll keep you updated as the election nears.
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