THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION was unprecedented in terms of international attention, history-making candidates, staggering campaign fundraising, and sheer numbers of voters. After a long and volatile primary season, the Palin surprise and three lackluster presidential debates—America chose the candidate of “change.” On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the first African American president of the United States. During this transition between Bush’s waning term and Obama’s swearing-in on the steps of the US Capitol, we’ve asked scores of Washington insiders their thoughts on K Street, public affairs, and communications shops and executives. For those readers who would like to veto any part of our list, you or your colleague may have received our query and chose not to “Rock the Vote.” Choose or lose, my friends.

FROM TOP: Senator Tom Daschle; Jeffrey J. Kimbell; Dan Combs; Gabriela Lemus; Jack Quinn

MOST LIKELY TO HAVE DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE

1. Senator Tom Daschle
The former senator and senate majority leader from South Dakota, Daschle previously served as one of the national cochairs for Obama’s presidential campaign. He was recently named Obama’s secretary of Health and Human Services.

2. David Plouffe, Obama Campaign
3. John Podesta, Center for American Progress
4. Paul Brathwaite, Podesta Group
5. Robert Raben, Raben Group

BEST ROLODEX

1. Wayne Berman, Ogilvy Government Relations
After more than 25 years in the nation’s capital, Berman, the managing director for Ogilvy Government Relations, holds an almost unmatched position at the crossroads of policy, politics, and campaign finance. Berman’s government service helped establish him as one of Washington’s quietly influential insiders on both domestic and foreign policy. He’s been an assistant secretary of commerce, and served on the board of trustees for the Library of Congress and the Center for Strategic and International Studies as well as for the Center for the Study of the Presidency; he helped lead campaigns for So Others May Eat.
2 John Podesta, Center for American Progress
3. Tim McBride, formerly of Freddie Mac and DaimlerChrysler
4. Gideon Lett, APCO Worldwide
5. Timothy Keating, Boeing
6. Leroy Watson, National Grange

SMOOTHEST TALKER

1. Jeffrey J. Kimbell, Kimbell & Associates
Kimbell is president of Jeffrey J. Kimbell & Associates, specializing in healthcare and life sciences. Kimbell founded K&A in 1998, and it now employs five full-time policy experts in the fields of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biodefense, and biotechnology. Kimbell’s previous experience includes a stint as executive director of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association and at law firm Baker, Worthington, Crossley & Stansberry.

2. Minyon Moore, Dewey Square Group
3. Mickey Ibarra, Ibarra & Associates
4. Lyndon Boozer, AT&T
5. John Merrigan, DLA Piper

MOST LIKELY TO TAKE A HIT

1. Winning Strategies
With its Republican ties, little or no Democratic staff, and heavy New Jersey presence,
it faces a tough new administration.
2. BGR Holding, LLC
3. PhRMA
The new administration will probably not be as friendly to pharmaceutical companies
as the old one was.
4. Ricchetti Inc.
5. Arnold & Porter
6. Cassidy & Associates
The firm was built on earmarks, which won’t be cool in this election cycle.

MOST LIKELY TO RETURN YOUR CALL, HOLD OPEN THE DOOR, AND/OR ASK HOW YOUR SICK CHILD IS DOING

1. Dan Combs, DCI Group
A partner at DCI Group, a strategic public affairs and global issues management firm, Combs has been with the firm for almost a decade. DCI’s campaign-style approach has helped corporations, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations address their most critical communications and public policy challenges. Combs has also served as director of Grassroots & Mobilization at Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE).
2. Ken Cole, General Motors
3. Andy Wright, Dutko Worldwide
4. Tom Tauke, Verizon
5. B. Dan Berger, National Association of Federal Credit Unions
6. Tim Lee, Center for Individual Freedom
7. Stephanie Markiewicz, Dewey Square Group
8. Taylor Gross, the Herald Group

MOST BELOVED BY THE MEDIA

1. Kiki McLean, Dewey Square Group
McLean is a principal of the Dewey Square Group and founded DSG’s strategic communications practice, guiding extensive corporate communications and public interest campaigns. A former press secretary to both Vice President Al Gore and Tipper Gore, and senior advisor to national political campaigns, McLean frequently provides analysis of politics and current events for national television news programs.
2. James Carville and Mary Matalin
3. Donna Brazile, Brazile & Associates
4. Daniel Kohns, Public Strategies, Inc.
5. Howard Wolfson, Glover Park Group
6. Jonathan Spalter, Public Insight

MOST LIKELY TO TAKE A PAY CUT AND WORK FOR POTUS

1. Gabriela Lemus, PhD, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)
Lemus is the executive director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), a national organization representing 1.7 million Latinos. A trade unionist throughout mainland US and Puerto Rico, Lemus was formerly director of policy at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Lemus founded the LULAC Democracy Initiative Voter Project, a national Hispanic civic participation campaign focused on voter education, registration, and protection, as well as the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change.
2. Dave Grimaldi, Raben Group
3. Jeff Connaughton, Quinn Gillespie & Associates
4. Brian Griffin, Duberstein Group
5. Tom Walls, McGuireWoods Consulting
6. David Sutphen, Viacom

BEST DRESSED

1 . Jack Quinn, Quinn Gillespie & Associates
Quinn is the cofounder and chairman of Quinn Gillespie & Associates, one of Washington, DC’s, top public affairs firms. Before founding QGA, he was a partner in the law firm of Arnold & Porter for 20 years, and served as White House counsel for former President Bill Clinton and as chief of staff and counselor for former Vice President Al Gore.
2. Debbie Dingell, General Motors
3. Bill Miller, US Chamber of Commerce
4. Jay Hawkins, The Alpine Group
5. D. Brett Hale, American Gaming Association

MOST PERSISTENT

1. Mike Smith, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Following a decade of heavy Democratic policy and campaign work, including working with Terry McAuliffe on the 2004 DNC and serving as the Midwest political director for the Gore 2000 and Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaigns, Smith is now at Cornerstone Government Affairs, where he provides clients with unique perspectives on the effectiveness of strategic planning, legislative campaigns, and political activity.
2. Nicholas Calio, Citigroup
3. Jennifer Stewart, Bryan Cave Strategies
4. Mathew Lapinski, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
5. Tony Podesta, Podesta Group