Steve Ayscue, President of Checkmate Advisors, LLC, is a top political and corporate strategist with nearly thirty years in the business.

PolitickerNJ.com, an Observer Media company, has consistently listed Steve as one of the 100 most powerful figures in the Garden State, one of the state's best political operatives, and a key "hired gun." 

Steve has advised the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Democratic Caucuses and numerous winning campaigns for federal, state, county, and municipal offices. 

Some of his past clients include: Hillary Clinton for President; U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker; U.S. Rep. William J. Pascrell; U.S. Rep. Donald W. Norcross; former U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews; the late U.S. Rep. John H. Adler; Former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio; and New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney. 

He provides regular analysis for TV, radio, and online news outlets.

Steve is a frequent guest lecturer at colleges and universities and is an adjunct professor of political science and urban studies at Rutgers University, Camden, his alma mater.

Follow him on Twitter @steveayscue.

Campaigns are about contrasts. 

If you think you offer a better vision for the future than your opponent, it helps to know your opponent and their record to make an effective case. 

Opposition research drives every campaign. 

Polling, direct mail, digital, and television advertising aren't complete without quality documented research.

This is why you need a veteran strategist who can track potential vulnerabilities of your opponents and use them to your advantage. It can literally make the difference between winning and losing.

Checkmate Advisors provides comprehensive opposition research for Democratic candidate campaigns, independent expenditure campaigns, issue advocacy campaigns, organized labor, and corporations. 

We also provide:

• Candidate debate and newspaper editorial board prep.
• Candidate self-research.
• Line-by-line substantiation for polling, direct mail, digital, and TV ad scripts.
• Editing and speechwriting.
• Earned media strategies.
• Candidate vetting and recruitment services for Democratic organizations.
• Trainings for unions and Democratic organizations.