Craig Crawford is one of Washington DC’s most popular pundits. His wit and wisdom are featured almost daily on national television and radio programs. Crawford is a contributor under contract appearing regularly for “The Early Show” on CBS, on cable television for CNBC and MSNBC, and on radio for the CBS Network. He is frequently interviewed for political reports on the NBC “Nightly News” and the CBS “Evening News.”

Once a week during the 2004 presidential campaign, Crawford’s unique insights and humorous style informed and entertained 15 million radio listeners on “Imus In The Morning,” the popular nationwide radio program hosted by the legendary Don Imus on CBS radio stations and simulcast on MSBNC.

“I love this guy,” Imus said on the air after one of Crawford’s quirky reports from the campaign road. “He’s naturally funny, and smart.”

Since early 2003, Crawford has covered the campaign for this year’s presidential election, traveling around the country writing a lively, non-partisan column – “White House Trail Mix” – that appears Fridays in CQ Today, published by Congressional Quarterly, Capitol Hill’s leading news source.

Before joining Congressional Quarterly, Crawford ran The Hotline for six years, 1997 to 2003. Under Crawford’s leadership, The Hotline – a daily online political briefing published by the National Journal Group – became an institution in the campaign universe. The Washington Post labeled Crawford “one of the capital's most celebrated journalists” in a profile published May 18, 2000.

Crawford’s book, Attack the Messenger, was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2005.

Crawford arrived in Washington in 1989 as a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel. He was the newspaper’s Washington bureau chief from 1989 to 1997. Before becoming a journalist, he served in 1984 as the Alabama State Field Director for the John Glenn presidential primary campaign, and the Georgia State Field Director for the Mondale/Ferraro general election campaign.

Born in Owensboro, Kentucky during the Eisenhower administration, Crawford was raised in Orlando, Florida, graduating from Stetson University in DeLand and its law school on Florida’s Gulf Coast. He practiced law in Orlando until 1984 and, although no longer practicing, is still a licensed attorney in the Florida Bar.

Crawford’s first experience in Washington began as a high school student, when he served as a page in the U.S. Senate during the Watergate scandal. Later, while a college student, he worked as a staffer in the White House Press Office during President Jimmy Carter’s Administration.

Crawford Briefs

Joined Congressional Quarterly in March 2003; MSNBC/CNBC (2002-present); CBS News (2000-present); The Hotline (1997-2003); Orlando Sentinel Washington DC Bureau Chief (1989-1997); Orlando Sentinel legal columnist, political reporter (1985-1989); Mondale/Ferraro general election campaign, GA State Field Director (1984); John Glenn Presidential primary campaign, AL State Field Director (1984); Lawyer specializing in product liability, Orlando, FL (1981-1984), currently a member of The Florida Bar; White House Special Assistant, Media Liaison (1977); U.S. Senate Page (1972); B.A., Stetson University, DeLand, FL, 1978; Juris Doctor, Stetson College of Law, St. Petersburg, FL, 1981.