Independent Strategies is the only consulting firm in the country specializing in independent-issues communications. A full-service firm, Independent Strategies provides clients with strategic planning, voter-contact support and communications strategy. The firm’s partners, Craig Varoga and George Rakis, use cutting-edge, results-driven methodologies to benefit their high-profile clients, including Presidential, Senate, Congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral campaigns; international and local labor unions; national political committees; state parties; independent-communications entities and hundreds of candidates in every region in the country.

Craig Varoga is a national political strategist whose presidential experience includes managing former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s campaign for president, serving as national field director for retired Four Star General Wesley Clark, managing the Texas Truth Squad in 2000 and running the state-research program for the Clinton-Gore re-election. Varoga began his political career in Louisiana in the 1980s, where he was a campaign aide to former Congresswoman Lindy Boggs and press secretary to New Orleans Mayor Sidney Barthelemy. During the 1990s, Varoga served as communications director to Senator Harry Reid and managed campaigns throughout the United States, including the victories of Texas Congressman Ken Bentsen (1994) and Houston Mayors Bob Lanier (1991) and Lee Brown (1997, 1999 and 2001). A graduate of Princeton University and native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Varoga has worked with the National Democratic Institute and the U.S. State Department to train political activists and elected officials in Europe, South America and the Middle East. Partner at Varoga & Associates and founder of the Patriot Majority, Varoga writes a monthly column ("Ask the Campaign Doctor") for Campaigns & Elections magazine.

George Rakis served as political director of the Democratic Governor's Association in 2005-2006 when Democratic candidates won 22 of 36 gubernatorial elections. A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Rakis has a long track record of winning elections, including victories as campaign manager for the Congressional campaigns of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (1992), former Representative Bill Luther (1994) and “Dean of the House John D. Dingell (1996). At the statewide level, Rakis served in 1997 as campaign director for the New Jersey Assembly Democratic Caucus, in 1997 as campaign manager in challenger’s race against incumbent New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and, in 2000, as coordinated campaign director for the Michigan Democratic Party’s statewide victories for Gore-Lieberman, Senator Debbie Stabenow and numerous down-ballot races. In 2004, Rakis was recruited to be DNC regional political director and, in 2007, he led the planning process for the independent GOTV operation, America Votes. A graduate of Salisbury State University, Rakis was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, served in the Maryland National Guard and graduated from the U.S. Army Military Police School and U. S.Army Airborne School. Rakis speaks fluent Greek.