Shrum wrote the famous speech Ted Kennedy gave at the 1980 Democratic National Convention conceding to and supporting President Jimmy Carter.

On December 21, 1965, he made his first television appearance as a law student, debating Henry Kissinger on a broadcast of the CBS program Town Meeting of the World.

Shrum began his political career as a speechwriter in 1970, first for Republican New York City Mayor John Lindsay, and then for United States Senators Edmund Muskie and Ted Kennedy.

In 1976, Shrum began work as a political consultant, designing campaign advertising and message strategy for Democratic candidates at the presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial levels, partnering with Pat Caddell and David Doak.

In 2000, Shrum helped Al Gore beat back a primary challenge from former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, and win the Democratic nomination.

Critics often point out Shrum's long losing streak, since he has yet to claim victory for any of his candidates in eight presidential elections.

Shrum has been a Senior Fellow at New York University's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where he taught a class on domestic policy formation and analysis.

He now holds the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at the University of Southern California.

Shrum, a Democrat, serves as Director of the USC Center for the Political Future, and he shares the leadership post with Co-Director Mike Murphy, his long-time Republican rival and friend.

[16][17] Shrum has written a political memoir entitled No Excuses: Concessions of a Serial Campaigner, published in June 2007.