Nate Wilcox

Nate Wilcox is an award-winning political and public affairs consultant and a recognized expert in online politics. He is the co-author, with Lowell Feld of "Netroots Rising: How a Citizen Army of Bloggers and Online Activists Is Changing American Politics". He is also a Senior Strategist with the WebStrong Group, advising a number of political and non-profit clients on using the Internet in a political context.

Formerly, Nate was Online Communications Director for Governor Mark Warner's Forward Together PAC. The PAC's innovative approach to Internet communications was recognized on the front page of the New York Times, on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, CNN, NPR, and dozens of other major media outlets. During Nate's tenure, the PAC quadrupled its supporter base and raised nearly $500,000 online.

Under Nate's leadership, the PAC pioneered new practices in politics including podcasting, online video, use of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, blogger outreach, and aggressive online advertising.

Prior to working for Governor Warner, Nate was the principal at Mercury Campaigns, a successful political consulting shop known for its online political work. In 2004, he ran online communications for several Congressional candidates, including Martin Frost and Richard Morrison's groundbreaking campaign against then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay in Texas. In 2003 he started a web site to oppose DeLay's re-redistricting of Texas and build an online organization of more than 30,000 activists in less than a month.

In 2001-2002 Nate was Online Strategist for Texas Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Tony Sanchez. His innovative work on that campaign was reported widely, Slate.com calling it "the best online campaign of 2002" as well as receiving coverage in the New York Times, CNN, Dallas Morning News, and Washington Monthly. In 2003, Nate was awarded two Pollie awards by the American Association of Political Consultants including "Best Overall Campaign."

He began his political career in 1997 doing news clips as an intern at the Austin, Texas powerhouse public affairs firm Public Strategies Inc. By 2001 he was PSI's first director of Online Communications, having helped build the division into one of the nation's largest, with more than $1.4 million in annual revenue. While at PSI, he worked for former Texas Governor Ann Richards, future Bush advisors Matthew Dowd and Mark McKinnon, as well as Clinton Staffers Paul Begala and Jeff Eller.