Bernie Sanders Staff Shake-Up: Top Strategists Leave His Presidential Campaign

(NBC News) Alex Seitz-Wald Feb. 26 2019 12:29 PM WASHINGTON In a major shake-up to Bernie Sanders just-launched presidential bid some of his top strategists have left the campaign. Tad Devine Mark Longabaugh and Julian Mulvey partners in a political consulting firm who all played leading roles in Sanders 2016 campaign for the White House are parting ways with the senator citing creative differences. The entire firm has stepped away. Were leaving the campaign Longabaugh told NBC News on Tuesday. We just didnt have a meeting of the minds. Devine a veteran Democratic presidential operative was a familiar presence on TV in 2016 as Sanders chief strategist responsible for setting the early direction of the campaign when few other Washington insiders believed the little-known Vermont independent could be a serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Longabaugh helped design and implement the campaigns delegate-hunting roadmap and negotiated with key outside players like the Democratic National Committee on issues like debates. Mulvey helped craft the firms ads for Sanders including his best-known commercial which featured the Simon & Garfunkel song America.