Lobbyists with connections to key Democrats also were big winners in midterm elections last week. Democratic lobbyists are in demand with the change in control of Congress, yet despite 12 years of GOP dominance in Congress and control of the White House since 2001, most of the communications sector抯 trade associations and companies won抰 be caught flat-footed, sources said. In contrast to other industries like energy, most of the major communications companies have kept at least some Democrats on staff. Sources also expect a move to hire more -- a trend some sources say started during the summer, when a Democratic win in the House began to look likely. Democrats with telecom experience are suddenly in demand, both as advisers and potential hires in lobbying firms, we're told.nn揧ou can look at individuals and say he or she is a Republican or he or she is a Democrat, but everybody has tried to have a good mix,?said one telecom source: 揧ou have to work with Joe Barton [R-Tex.] or Ed Markey [D-Mass.].?揕obbying shops that are heavily weighted toward Republicans will seek to balance things out,?said Stanford Group analyst Paul Gallant: 揝ome are already moving in that direction.?Greg Rohde, former dir. of NTIA and a Democrat, hopes the change in control of Congress means more bipartisanship. 揟hings changed dramatically in this town in 2000 and 2001 when too many people drank the Kool-Aid, thinking only one party mattered,?Rohde said: 揟here was pressure on companies that said you have to fire Democrats and hire Republicans... My personal hope is we return to a spirit of bipartisanship.?/font>
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