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Talent and Organization - Florida
By the close of the Florida primary
campaign three Republican presidential campaigns organizations
were active in the state. Romney for President had been building
its Florida team since June 2011. The campaign viewed Florida as
a "firewall" and put together an organization to back that, including
an impressive array of endorsements. Newt 2012 only
really started putting together an organization in late 2011; the
campaign did have 13 offices around the state by primary day.
Rick Santorum for President announced his team on January 13. The
Ron Paul campaign did not even go so far as to announce any campaign
leadership or supporters. Several candidates who dropped out had
built significant organizations notably Perry, Cain, Huntsman and
Pawlenty.
updated January 31, 2012
NATIONAL
|
IOWA | NEW HAMPSHIRE
| SOUTH CAROLINA
|
FLORIDA |
NEVADA
Obama |
Gingrich | Paul | Romney | Santorum | ||||
former: |
Perry | Huntsman | Bachmann | Cain | Pawlenty |
Newt Gingrich +
The Gingrich campaign started with an office in Miami,
FL and by primary day had opened 13 offices around the state. Jose Mallea, who
served as campaign manager on Marco Rubio's 2010 U.S. Senate campaign,
is state director, first reported Dec. 12, 2011. Former Attorney
General Bill McCollum is state
chairman. There is an extensive steering committee and on Dec. 20
the campaign announced chairs in all 67 counties.
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney +
Molly Donlin
is state director. In 2010 Donlin directed Republicans' Michigan
Victory
effort. In the fall
2008 campaign she directed Republicans' Victory 2008 effort in
Arizona; earlier in the cycle she served as field director for Central
Florida on the Rudy Giuliani
Presidential Committee. There is an extensive finance
committee. On Dec. 21 the campaign announced chairs in all 67
counties. Among the many endorsements, Romney is backed by eight
congressman, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam and Attorney
General Pam Bondi.
Rick Santorum +
On Jan. 13, 2012 the campaign announced its Florida
team lead by
chairman Jesse Biter of
Sarasota. Michael Phillips,
a
marketing
and
creative
concepts
consultant
from
West
Palm Beach, is
state director. There are several other statewide staff and a
regional
campaign team working around the state.
former
Rick Perry +
Within days of his announcement Perry had received endorsements from four state legislators, and on Aug. 24, 2011 House Speaker Dean Cannon added his endorsement. His state director is Nick Hansen, who most recently served as a strategist and legislative assistant to state Rep. Jeff Brandes; his political director is Bret Prater, who formerly held that role on Tim Pawlenty's campaign and whose experience includes political director of the RPOF in the 2010 cycle. Randy Enwright and Jim Rimes are senior advisors.
Jon Huntsman +
Huntsman had established his national campaign
headquarters in Orlando (grand opening on the afternoon of June
23); however he moved operations to New Hampshire at the beginning of
October. His state director is Nikki
Jerger
Lowrey; she had been doing public relations and
government affairs consulting since March 2009, and her experience
includes director of external affairs in the office
of Gov. Jeb Bush, 2003-05. The campaign also has
consultants David "DJ" Johnson,
Marc Reichelderfer and Alex W. Castellanos, Jr.. A
couple of Floridians are leading its youth and Hispanic outreach
efforts:
Jeb Bush Jr. is national chair
of GenH and Ana Navarro is
national Hispanic chairperson.
Herman Cain +
On Oct. 26, 2011 the campaign announced an
extensive Florida organization led by statewide chairs former state
Sen. Carey Baker, former Mayor
of St. Petersburg Rick Baker, state
Rep.
Scott
Plakon and businesswoman Kathleen
Shanahan. Additionally,
Adam Goodman, president of The
Victory Group, is serving as Florida
senior strategist and media advisor and Arlene DiBenigo, founder of
Unico Strategies, is Florida senior advisor.
Tim Pawlenty +
Pawlenty had a very solid organization before he pulled out on August 14. Phil Handy is state chairman and national finance co-chair. In 2007-08 he served as a Florida co-chair on Sen. John McCain's campaign. Handy was state chairman of Jeb Bush’s gubernatorial campaigns in Florida in 1993-94 and 1997-98; and co-chairman of his 2002 re-election campaign. Announced as co-chairs are Justin Sayfie, state Rep. (and Speaker Designate) Will Weatherford and Slater Bayliss. A total of fourteen state Representatives has endorsed Pawlenty.