KEN KURSON

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- New Jersey doesn’t have any speakers set for the Republican National Convention, but it does have a speechwriter.

Tomorrow night, former New York mayor/presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani will deliver a speech on the convention center’s floor that was written by South Orange native Ken Kurson, a consultant at the New Jersey political firm Jamestown Associates.

Kurson co-wrote Giuliani’s biography, which spent 25 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and served as Chief Operating Officer of his presidential campaign and Deputy Director of Communications at Giuliani Partners.

Tom Kean Jr. is paying back an out-of-state political ally.

About 25 friends and colleagues congregated at the state Senate minority leader’s Westfield home to meet and donate to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

It was, according to Kean, the second fundraiser he’s held for McConnell this election cycle, and a way of showing appreciation for one of his major out-of-state backer in his 2006 run against Bob Menendez.

In December, 2005, McConnell’s PAC, Bluegrass Committee, gave $10,000 to Kean’s Senate campaign, and three months later McConnell – then the majority whip -- headlined a New Jersey fundraiser for Kean.

PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE

Ken Kurson, the co-author with Rudy Giuliani of Leadership, which spent 25 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has joined Jamestown Associates, a New Jersey-based political consulting firm that works for GOP candidates nationally.  Kurson served as Deputy Director of Communications for Giuliani partners, and most recently served as COO of Giuliani’s presidential campaign.

"I am thrilled about Ken Kurson joining the firm. He is brilliant writer, a smart strategist and is  passionate about winning. He is a perfect fit for Jamestown Associates,” said Jamestown Associates CEO Larry Weitzner.  “Over the month that we've been discussing Ken's arrival, Tom Blakely and I were very excited to bring Ken aboard and the three of us had a lot of fun anticipating the great things we'd accomplish together."