Morris' Career A Lucrative One

By Brooks Jackson/CNN [Dollar sign]

WASHINGTON (Aug. 29) -- If the dictionary ever defines the phrase "hired political gun" it might be next to a picture of Dick Morris, a man who has made a good living working for Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives.

Before he became a campaign consultant, Morris worked for Euguene McCarthy in 1968, then, George McGovern in 1972.

An early client was Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio, one of the most liberal of Democrats.

And Morris worked for a young Bill Clinton, when he won his first governor's race in Arkansas.

But by 1980 his clients included Republicans: Paula Hawkins of Florida and Warren Rudman of New Hampshire, both elected to the Senate in the Reagan landslide that year.

By 1990 his clients included the conservative senior senator from North Carolina, Jesse Helms -- a long, long ideological journey from his McGovern days.

But the money has been good. Morris can command a fee of $100,000 for advising a single congressional race. He can earn even more for campaigns for senator, governor, or president.

"Top rung political consultants can make between $500,000 and $1,000,000 in a major election cycle," said Ron Faucheux, of Campaigns and Elections magazine.

"Someone working on the top of a presidential campaign could very well make $1,000,000 or more."

The Clinton campaign directly paid Morris $231,000 through the end of July, according to The Washington Post. But he also has split some very large, undisclosed fees with other Clinton consultants.

So does his resignation mean the end of the political gravy train for Morris? Faucheaux said it might be difficult for Morris to get candidate campaign business.

"But I don't necessarily think that he's washed up as a consultant to corporate America or as a consultant to international business concerns and certainly not as a book author," said Faucheux.

There have been reports of a Morris book. If they're true, the price probably just went up.

Morris' Career A Lucrative One

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