Former Counselor to President Bush, Dan Bartlett, has joined CBS News as a political analyst. Bartlett will provide on-air analysis on a variety of political issues, "including at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and beyond," according to the press release.

Said CBS News & Sports president Sean McManus, "We're very pleased to have Dan Bartlett join our team. We now go into the final stages of this fascinating political season with two analysts — Dan and Joe [Trippi] — who have had unique and extensive hands-on experience in major political campaigns and government."

The press release is after the jump...

August 18, 2008

DAN BARTLETT JOINS CBS NEWS AS A POLITICAL ANALYST

Former White House communications official Dan Bartlett has joined CBS News as a political analyst, it was announced today by Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports. Bartlett will provide on-air analysis on a variety of political issues, including at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and beyond. The appointment is effective immediately. He joins Joe Trippi in that role for CBS News.

"We're very pleased to have Dan Bartlett join our team," said McManus. "We now go into the final stages of this fascinating political season with two analysts-Dan and Joe-who have had unique and extensive hands-on experience in major political campaigns and government."

Bartlett was, most recently, Counselor to the President (January 2005-July 2007), responsible for all aspects of President George W. Bush's strategic communications planning, the formulation of policy and the implementation of the President's agenda. He also oversaw the White House Press Office and the Offices of Communications, Media Affairs and Speechwriting.
Before that, Bartlett was Assistant to the President for Communications and White House Communications Director (June 2002-January 2005) and Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy to then-Counselor to the President Karen Hughes (January 2001-June 2002).
Prior to joining the Bush Administration, he was a senior spokesman and Director of Rapid Response for the Bush for President campaign in Austin, Texas. He served President Bush since 1993, working on both successful campaigns for Governor of Texas. Bartlett worked in the Governor's Office as Deputy to the Policy Director (1994-98) and, during the 1998 re-election campaign, as Issues Director. Before that, he worked for Karl Rove and Company, an Austin-based political consulting firm.
Bartlett is currently a senior strategist based in Austin for Public Strategies, Inc., a strategic communications firm.
He was born in Waukegan, Ill. Bartlett was graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in political science.