Residence Costa Mesa, California Political party Republican Party | Partner(s) Leigh Beach Organization founded Great America PAC | |
Occupation Great America PAC, Chairman Known for Veteran Republican Strategist Website | ||
Eric L. Beach is a Republican political strategist and consultant based out of Costa Mesa, California. Beach currently serves as the co-chair for the pro-Donald Trump Great America PAC, along wth Ed Rollins. Beach is a veteran of Republican campaigns having served as a finance chair on Newt Gingrich's 2012 presidential bid, working on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential bid and as an aide for Bill Simon’s 2002 campaign for California governor. Beach also founded the Brothers in Arms Foundation, which partnered with Under Armour to host the annual Brothers in Arms Classic featuring high school football teams from around the country to raise awareness for those serving in the military and to raise money for the victims of fallen troops.
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Early Life and Education
Beach was born in raised in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., where his father was a firefighter. Beach attended Towson State University where he was a member of the football team and student body president for two years. Beach would go on to obtain a Masters in political science for the George Washington University.
Political career
Beach is a veteran political operative, having served on many high profile campaigns. Beach is currently the co-chair of the pro-Donald Trump Great America PAC, along with former Ronald Reagan campaign manager, Ed Rollins. Upon his hiring POLITICO wrote: "Beach’s hiring, however, indicates that Great America PAC is looking to establish itself as a serious entity."
Prior to joining the Great America PAC, Beach served as national finance chairman for Kentucky Senator Rand Paul's 2016 presidential campaign. Beach also served a national finance chairman for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich's 2012 presidential campaign.
In 2008, Beach served as the state finance leader, in California, for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid. Beach has also served as national finance chairman for the Tea Party Express, campaign director for Bill Jones' 2004 U.S. Senate campaign in California, and as a member of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2003 campaign team.
Great America PAC
Beach was brought in to run the Great America PAC in March 2016. Beach is credited with bringing veteran Republican consultant Ed Rollins on board. Rollins, a long time Republican consultant and strategist was President Ronald Reagan's campaign manager in 1984 when he won 49 out of 50 states. Beach also hired former Navy SEAL and Donald Trump surrogate Carl Higbie to serve as spokesman.
While their roles have yet to be determined, Trump supporters Rudy Giuliani and former 2016 presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson appeared at an event hosted by the Great America PAC at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July 2016.
Ads
Under Beach's leadership the Great America PAC received media attention for being the first pro-Trump super PAC make a significant ad buy. To date, the Great America PAC has released three ads "Enemies," "The Difference," and "Leadership." On July 27, Sean Hannity aired "The Difference" and "Leadership" in their entirety on his Fox News primetime program Hannity. He was then joined live on set by Rudy Giuliani and Dr. Dorothy Woods who discussed their ads, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and the 2016 presidential election.
"Enemies"
In June 2016 the Great America PAC released its first ad entitled "Enemies" featuring Spokesman and former Navy SEAL Carl Higbie. In the ad Higbie says: "The Orlando tragedy is a stark reminder that the enemy and the battlefield is moving here to our shores," Higbie goes on to say that he. "Join millions of active duty military members and veterans like me who stand with Donald Trump." According to reports the Great America PAC put $700,000 behind the ad.
"The Difference"
In July 2016 the Great America PAC released its second ad entitled "The Difference" featuring Dr. Dorothy Woods, the widow of Ty Woods, a former Navy Seal and one of four Americans killed in the 2012 Benghazi attacks. In the ad, Woods says "her husband was a "fierce patriot." Woods goes on to say that "He was killed during the attack in Benghazi while saving American lives under the charge of our State Department," and that when "When Hillary Clinton was challenged by Congress on who was to blame for the attack, her response was a disgrace." According to reports the ad was part of a 2 million dollars ad buy to support Trump.
"Leadership"
In July 2016 the Great America PAC released its third ad entitled "Leadership" featuring former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In the ad Mayor Giuliani says "The world must come together and America needs to lead, yet President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton just want to stay the course. The incompetence Hillary Clinton displayed during the Benghazi attack and her singular focus on protecting her own reputation proves she is not ready to be commander-in-chief. We face many challenges as a nation, but nothing is more critical than America displaying strong leadership and an unwavering resolve to defeat terrorism. America's leadership can and must be better and with Donald Trump as president, it will be."