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Arthur Finkelstein, GOP Campaign Guru, Dies At 72

Arthur Finkelstein, a conservative campaign strategist who helped elect Republican presidents and Israeli premiers has died, his family announced Saturday. He was 72.

Finkelstein was perhaps best known as the brains behind the unlikely elections of Sen. Al D’Amato and Gov. George Pataki.

But he also helped Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and even Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) win.

Early in his polling career, Finkelstein signed onto Nixon’s 1972 campaign at just 26.

Finkelstein later helped run Reagan’s unsuccessful 1976 primary campaign against Gerald Ford, and his winning race four years later.

Finkelstein also worked for conservatives Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon in Israel.

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