Dayton, S

Soren Dayton works at New Media Strategies, an innovative social media and PR firm in the Washington, D.C., area. Soren’s client work involves primarily political and corporate campaigns in which new media and new forms of organizing are central to either the campaign or its opponents. Soren joined NMS from John McCain‘s presidential campaign, where he worked on the delegate team, in addition to pinch-hitting on a number of communication functions.

Prior to the McCain campaign, Soren worked as a political and strategy consultant for a variety of domestic and international clients. He has also worked on Capitol Hill, campaigns, and for a software company that he helped start. Soren graduated with a BA in Anthropology and Math from the University of Chicago.

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And finally, to unify the charges of racism and elitism, check out what Soren Dayton, the McCain operative 'suspended' after circulating <a href="http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/mccain_aide_actively_pushed_ra.php">a racially charged video about Obama</a> is distributing on Facebook.

This episode reveals so many aspects of our corroded political system.  For one, while I find the whole 'don't repeat right-wing frames' kind of tired if useful, Hillary Clinton's charges of elitism are explicitly reinforcing right-wing charges.  How do we know this?  Well, because right-wingers are attacking him with her rhetoric.  Two, Soren Dayton is a Republican operative who was apparently 'suspended' from the McCain campaign, but he's out there spreading the same old political arguments about Obama as he did before he was suspended.  The whole disavowal thing for McCain is a neat trick, isn't it?  Three, the use of elitist snob and the use of racist rhetoric is intimately tied together.  As Glenn Greenwald has demonstrated in his important book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Hypocrites-Toppling-Republican/dp/0307408027">Great American Hypocrites</a>, male Democratic candidates must always be presented as feminine, elite, aristocratic, savage, and untrustworthy, for fear that substantive arguments will actually present the electorate with a choice on larger questions of national direction.

And no conservative is ever held accountable for their activities, no matter how dishonorable.  It really doesn't matter if it's Ann Coulter calling for the assassination of a New York Times reporter or describing John Edwards as a fag, or Soren Dayton being 'disavowed' by the McCain campaign while explicitly continuing to push out anti-Obama right-wing messaging, the conservative machine marches on without fear of consequence.

<a href="http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5152">http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5152</a>

I am a PR guy and political consultant on sabbatical and living in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalore" title="Bangalore" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Bangalore</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">India</a>. I will not be updating client wikipedia pages with this account. So far, the pages that I have edited are:<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: rgb(37, 37, 37); line-height: 22.3999996185303px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary_Baptist_Church(Washington,D.C.)" title="Calvary Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Calvary Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.)</a>, of which I am a member.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_Assistance_Commission" title="Election Assistance Commission" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Election Assistance Commission</a>, cleaned up some of the names, added recent attempts to defund the EAC, and added the recent settlement and finding regarding political discrimination at the EAC.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gecan" title="Michael Gecan" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Michael Gecan</a>, a leading community organizer in the United States, working with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Areas_Foundation" title="Industrial Areas Foundation" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Industrial Areas Foundation</a>.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redstate" title="Redstate" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Redstate</a>, a conservative political blog to which I contribute.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Justice_Mission" title="International Justice Mission" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">International Justice Mission</a>, an international human rights organization that my wife and I have donated some money to.</li></ul>I mostly intend to work on the pages of historical features related to my church, in particular current and former Senior Pastors. I created the following pages:<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); color: rgb(37, 37, 37); line-height: 22.3999996185303px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clarence_Cranford&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Clarence Cranford (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background: none;">Clarence Cranford</a>, Pastor, author and President of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Baptist_Convention" title="Northern Baptist Convention" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Northern Baptist Convention</a>. Somehow, I screwed this page up, and the Sandbox page is<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Sorendayton/Clarence_Cranford" title="User:Sorendayton/Clarence Cranford" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">User:Sorendayton/Clarence Cranford</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Hill(pastor)" title="George W. Hill (pastor)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">George W. Hill (pastor)</a>, Pastor and a leader of a campaign to create the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Institute_of_Peace" title="United States Institute of Peace" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">United States Institute of Peace</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Harrison_Greene" title="Samuel Harrison Greene" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Samuel Harrison Greene</a>, a former pastor at Calvary and President of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_University" title="George Washington University" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">George Washington University</a>.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Palacios" title="Edgar Palacios" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Edgar Palacios</a>, an Associate Pastor who was active in the peace movement in El Salvador.</li></ul>And I am gradually working on more. I may also do some work on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Young_Democrat_Union" title="International Young Democrat Union" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">International Young Democrat Union</a> of which I used to be a board member
If people want to contact me outside of wikipedia, my information is available at <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sorendayton.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 51, 102); padding-right: 13px; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) 100% 50% no-repeat, url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%2210%22%20height%3D%2210%22%3E%3Cg%20transform%3D%22translate%28-826.429%20-698.791%29%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%225.982%22%20height%3D%225.982%22%20x%3D%22826.929%22%20y%3D%22702.309%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%20stroke%3D%22%2306c%22%2F%3E%3Cg%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M831.194%20698.791h5.234v5.391l-1.571%201.545-1.31-1.31-2.725%202.725-2.689-2.689%202.808-2.808-1.311-1.311z%22%20fill%3D%22%2306f%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M835.424%20699.795l.022%204.885-1.817-1.817-2.881%202.881-1.228-1.228%202.881-2.881-1.851-1.851z%22%20fill%3D%22%23fff%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E) 100% 50%;">my website</a>. bs  human trafficI wrote,with a colleague from Prism, <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/309157-german-business-leaders-will-have-to-fight-for-trade-deal-in-washington" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); outline: none; -webkit-transition: all 0.3s; transition: all 0.3s;">a piece on the role of European business in making sure that TTIP passes</a> in the US and that the Transatlantic relations gets redefined.There are no better spokespeople for the position that TTIP can create mutually beneficial growth and jobs than the European businesses that would invest in the U.S., and German businesses are the natural leaders of that group.http://sorendayton.com/Soren Dayton LinkInStrategic Communications and Public AffairsWashington D.C. Metro AreaPublic Relations and CommunicationsCurrent Prism Public Affairs, Dayton Strategies  <a href="http://influenceexplorer.com/organization/prism-public-affairs/5fed3f9e40aa4aa4ae30f6a662b945d3">http://influenceexplorer.com/organization/prism-public-affairs/5fed3f9e40aa4aa4ae30f6a662b945d3</a>twinkies, palm oil
Prism Public Affairs, L.L.C. is a strategic communications company that operates at the intersection of public policy and the media. It offers its services in the areas, such as legislative, public policy debates, and issue communications; coalition development and communications; media relations; corporate positioning campaigns; litigation communications; digital and social media; crisis communications; and congressional investigations and hearings. The company is based in Washington, District of Columbia. As of January 30, 2014, Prism Public Affairs, L.L.C. operates as a subsidiary of Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, Inc.1825 Eye Street, N.W.Suite 600Washington, DC 20006United StatesPhone:202-575-3800Fax:202-575-3400www.prismpublicaffairs.comKey Executives For Prism Public Affairs, L.L.C.Mr. Soren DaytonSenior Vice PresidentMs. Amanda DeaverManaging Director and Founding PartnerMr. Chuck DolanExecutive Vice PresidentMs. Shanna DuncanExecutive Vice PresidentMr. Dale LeibachPrincipal and Founding Partner---bs pr newswire:About Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications  Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications is a nationally recognized communications and public affairs firm with more than two decades of experience providing exceptional client service to organizations that operate at the intersection of business, politics and media. With offices inWashington, D.C. and Boston, the firm offers a comprehensive range of services, including public affairs, government relations, public relations, corporate and marketing communications, reputation management, international representation, digital public affairs, ballot campaign management, media and presentation training and public sector business development. The firm represents a broad range of businesses, non-profit organizations and trade associations. For more information, please visit<a href="http://www.rasky.com/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(62, 94, 175); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">www.rasky.com</a>.About Prism Public Affairs  Prism Public Affairs, founded in 2003, is a strategic communications firm that operates at the intersection of complex public policy issues and the media.  We protect and build reputations by helping clients manage tough communications issues when it matters most. Prism guides clients through high-profile communications challenges including legislative and regulatory battles, litigation, congressional hearings, repositioning campaigns, and more.  <a href="http://www.prismpublicaffairs.com/" target="blank" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(62, 94, 175);">www.prismpublicaffairs.com</a>SOURCE Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, Inc.===Previous International Justice Mission, Redstate.com, International Young Democrat UnionEducation The University of Chicago500+
BackgroundSummarySoren has been in Washington, DC for eleven years in Washington, D.C. in a variety of political and communications roles. Soren, along with his wife, are on sabbatical working with International Justice Mission, a human rights NGO, working in South Asia.
Most recently, Soren was with (and maintains a relationship with) Rasky Baerlein | Prism (previously Prism Public Affairs), a strategic communications firm in Washington, D.C. and Boston that focuses on crisis and litigation communications and public affairs issues. There and in other capacities, he has advised companies, trade associations, non-profits, and candidates. Soren has worked more directly in politics on John McCain’s campaign for President and as a foreign policy advisor to a Member of the U.S. House’s International Relations Committee.Soren has been regular commenter on politics in the U.S. and abroad, and his writings have appeared in Roll Call, Politico, The Hill, and other outlets. He has appeared on CNN, BBC, NPR, RTE (Irish national TV and Radio), Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, Sirius-XM, among others. (most of these are at Soren’s site)
Prior to moving to Washington, Soren helped found a software start-up in Chicago, where he grew up. Soren graduated with an A.B. from the University of Chicago in Anthropology and Mathematics.German business leaders will have to fight for trade deal in WashingtonGerman business leaders will have to fight for trade deal in Washington
Where did Mitt Romney go wrong? (BBC TV after the 2012 election)Where did Mitt Romney go wrong? (BBC TV after the 2012 election)
Sharing India's democratic talentsSharing India's democratic talents
Experience
Senior CounselorPrism Public AffairsSeptember 2012 – Present (2 years 11 months)Washington, DCAt Prism, Soren manages strategic communications programs and builds third party support for clients involved in high-stakes regulatory and public affairs battles, as well as litigation and other sensitive situations. He has focused on telecommunications, energy, and international issues.PrincipalDayton StrategiesJanuary 2005 – Present (10 years 7 months)Washington, DCCommunications and political consulting.
I advise companies, campaigns, and organizations on communications and public affairs strategy 
I worked with a number of groups and individuals in the United States and internationally on strategy, especially in party building. Examples of projects:
- running a 527 with 11 staff that operated in 10 states- advised an international NGO on the recruitment of members of the US Congress to become participants and supporters.(Open)3 recommendations, including:Eli LehrerEli LehrerPresident at R Street InstituteSoren is one of the best political operatives in D.C. He knows politics backwards and forwards, understands how D.C. works...ViewJim LakelyJim LakelyCommunications Director at The Heartland InstituteI've had the pleasure to work with Soren on technology policy and communication issues. He's and effective speaker and...View1 more recommendationAdvisorInternational Justice MissionFebruary 2014 – June 2015 (1 year 5 months)New Delhi and Bangalore, IndiaAdvised teams and built capacity in those team in Bangalore and Delhi offices on government relations and communications. Worked to bring messaging and coalitions practices into alignment with a new underlying legal approach. Led the effort to produce the first all India annual report of IJM's work in India that encapsulated this new legal approach that brought both sex and labor trafficking under the same narrative framework and more clearly articulated IJM's distinctives and theory of change to external audiences. Helped with medium and long-term planning for government relations and thought leadership.ContributorRedstate.comOctober 2007 – 2014 (7 years)Board MemberInternational Young Democrat UnionJanuary 2012 – 2013 (1 year)Represent the Young Republican National Federation to the International Young Democrat UnionSenior StrategistNew Media StrategiesMay 2008 – July 2012 (4 years 3 months)Washington D.C. Metro AreaI lead and co-lead accounts for a Fortune 50, other large companies, campaigns, etc.In this capacity, I work in day-to-day partnership with Government Affairs, Legal, Communications, and other teams at my clients and with other consultants, offering both strategic advice and tactical support in both communications and digital areas.(Open)2 recommendationsKarin BloomquistKarin BloomquistMarketing Specialist at Washington GasSoren was an enthusiastic, passionate strategist at New Media Strategies (NMS) during my time as an intern in the Public...ViewJohn CzwartackiJohn CzwartackiPrincipal at Blueprint CommunicationsSoren has brought insight and wise counsel to me and other senior executives at Verizon. His viewpoint of the new media...ViewDeputy National Delegate CoordinatorJohn McCain 2008January 2008 – March 2008 (3 months)Washington D.C. Metro AreaWorked on ballot access, delegate selection, campaign planning, and communications. I lead the effort to get a universe of unpledged delegates to formally pledge to John McCain so that the campaign could engage with the Republican National Committee.
Also ran the Election Day Operations communications war room where I was in charge of reviewing reports from the voters and ballot integrity teams and turning them into effective news stories.Legislative AssistantUS House of RepresentativesJanuary 2003 – January 2005 (2 years 1 month)Washington, DCI advised Rep. Nick Smith (R-MI) on foreign policy, defense, and other issues. Worked on legislation including PEPFAR, the Millenium Challenge Corporation, appropriations, healthcare (including Medicare Part D), among others.VariousOverX, Inc.July 1999 – July 2002 (3 years 1 month)Chicago, ILI did everything from marketing to intellectual property developing to software engineering to customer visits. I wrote substantial portions of our marketing materials. I participated in the patent application process for 7 technologies, receiving 5.Publications
An analytic framework for the net neutrality debate(Link)Takshashila InstitutionApril 22, 2015Sharing India’s democratic talents(Link)Takshashila InstituteOctober 6, 2014German business leaders will have to fight for trade deal in Washington(Link)July 8, 2013Volunteer Experience & Causes
Causes Soren cares about:Human RightsPoliticsOrganizations Soren supports:Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, DC (Calvary DC)International Justice MissionSkills
Top Skills99+Politics
87Strategic Communications
82Public Relations
67Grassroots Organizing
50Political Consulting
47Political Campaigns
44Public Affairs
34Legislative Relations
25Public Policy
24Government
Soren also knows about...23Political Science21Political Communication16Policy Analysis15International Relations15New Media15Nonprofits14Foreign Policy14Media Relations11Message Development11Campaigns11Strategy11Speech Writing11Leadership10Crisis Communications9LegislationSee 24+ Organizations
Calvary Baptist ChurchModerator, Chairman of the Board of Missions, At-Large member of the Church Council, Chairman of the Associate Pastor Search Committee, Member of the Personnel CommitteeStarting June 2005I have had a variety of lay leadership positions in our exciting church. In these capacities, I have lead pastoral search committees, lead the effort to restructure the by-laws, and lead the process to change the denominational affiliations.Young Republican National FederationCommunications Director, International Secretary, Communications Director, Executive DirectorStarting May 2003I served in a variety of functions in the Young Republican National Federation, including as Chair of the DC organization, International Secretary (collaborating with like-minded parties and organizations in other countries), Communications Director, and Executive Director.Education
The University of ChicagoThe University of ChicagoAB, Anthropology and Mathematics1994 – 1999Studied Linguistic Anthropology and the intersection of Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science. In addition, I took extensive coursework in Psychology and Physics. My areas of geographical interest were South Asia and the Middle East.
I began graduate school at U of C, but withdrew to found a software company.Activities and Societies: Badminton Team, University of Chicago Student Computing Organization, Qumbya Housing CooperativeNational Defense UniversityNational Security Studies2003 – 2004Took courses on US national security policy, civil military relations, national security decision making, and other areas.Evanston Township High School1990 – 1994Activities and Societies: Chess Club, Math TeamAdditional Info
InterestsHanging out with my wife, politics, cooking, hiking, jazzRecommendations Received (5)Given (5)PrincipalDayton StrategiesEli LehrerEli LehrerPresident at R Street InstituteSoren is one of the best political operatives in D.C. He knows politics backwards and forwards, understands how D.C. works and has tons of great ideas. Quite simply, he's the best.October 22, 2013, Eli was with another company when working with Soren at Dayton StrategiesJim LakelyJim LakelyCommunications Director at The Heartland InstituteI've had the pleasure to work with Soren on technology policy and communication issues. He's and effective speaker and advocate for free markets.November 16, 2010, Jim was with another company when working with Soren at Dayton StrategiesAnne ForbesAnne ForbesMarilyn MiglinSoren is an outstanding consultant.  His knowledge is extraordinarily deep and his contacts are outstanding.  He thinks out-of-the-box to solve problems, and is an outstanding networker.  I would recommend Soren for any job, as he is an asset to any company or on any project.August 23, 2007, Anne was Soren's clientSenior StrategistNew Media StrategiesKarin BloomquistKarin BloomquistMarketing Specialist at Washington GasSoren was an enthusiastic, passionate strategist at New Media Strategies (NMS) during my time as an intern in the Public Affairs practice. His natural leadership and confidence made him a joy to be around and a go to employee for learning fundamental industry skills. He has a strong willingness to help others and always brought a positive vibe into the office. I am positive he will succeed where ever his career takes him!September 11, 2012, Karin worked indirectly for Soren at New Media StrategiesJohn CzwartackiJohn CzwartackiPrincipal at Blueprint CommunicationsSoren has brought insight and wise counsel to me and other senior executives at Verizon. His viewpoint of the new media landscape is unquestionably sound and of great value to clients.March 31, 2010, John was with another company when working with Soren at New Media StrategiesEli LehrerEli LehrerPresidentEli is reinventing the think tank and the free-market movement. He is one of the leading thinkers about the way that institutions can impact our policy-making process. And he brings ideas and organization to a number of very important fights. We are all lucky to have him.October 29, 2013, Soren was with another company when working with Eli at R Street InstituteKarin BloomquistKarin BloomquistPublic Affairs InternKarin did the four critical things you look for in a recent college graduate: she worked hard, she thought creatively, she learned quickly, and she always had a fantastic attitude, eager to do more.January 8, 2012, Soren managed Karin indirectly at New Media StrategiesJim LakelyJim LakelyDirector of CommunicationsJim is great. I have been fortunate enough to work with him on a number of issues, and I have found him to be very effective and professional.November 16, 2010, Soren was with another company when working with Jim at The Heartland InstituteKavon W. NikradKavon W. NikradManaging EditorI have been interacting with Kavon since 2007 or so when he started Race42008.com. This site became a must-read for anyone following the presidential race. Since the election it has been a must-read for people forllowing all aspects of the Republican Party. 
Perhaps more importantly and more interestingly, he built one of the most vibrant center-right online communities. One of the things that Kavon did quite well was build an inviting environment that allowed debate involving people representing all the candidates. Unlike many online political communities, all voices were invited, respected, and encouraged to participate. That's a very important feature and insight. 
RightOSphere is an extension and upgrade of that idea with better technology and more flexibility. I believe that he will succeed and have a remarkable impact.May 9, 2010, Soren was with another company when working with Kavon W. at Race42012.comJoe GecanJoe GecanDeputy DirectorJoe is one of the most creative people I have met in politics. His work at the Veterans Coalition laid the groundwork for McCain's primary victory and demonstrated a model for grassroots success that the Republican Party needs to replicate.March 1, 2009, Soren worked with Joe at Veterans Outreach, John McCain 200