Matthew Dowd

— -- Matthew Dowd spent 30 years working in partisan politics, most recently playing leading roles in the elections of Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger, R-Calif., and President George W. Bush.

In 2004 he served as chief strategist to the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign. That year the bipartisan American Association of Political Consultants named him Pollster of the Year.

Prior to 2004, Dowd served as a senior strategist on the 2000 Bush-Cheney campaign.

In the 1990s, Dowd was president and founding partner of Public Strategies, Inc, an international public affairs firm.

While at PSI, he advised a wide variety of corporate clients. He also helped former Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, D-Tex., win election and re-election.

Dowd began his career as a member of Senator Lloyd Bentsen's, D-Tex., Senate and campaign staffs.

Dowd is a founding partner of ViaNovo, an international communications and brand positioning firm.

He has taught at the University of Texas' LBJ School of Public Affairs and has led seminars at Stanford, Harvard and Yale Universities.

He is co-author of the New York Times bestseller "Applebee's America: How Successful Political, Business and Religious Leaders Connect with the New American Community."

Matthew grew up in Detroit, Michigan, attending public schools there, until he went to college in St. Louis, Missouri where he worked on the staff of Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo.

He lives in Wimberley, Texas.