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Walker Hires Two Former RNC Aides In Political Roles

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Updated: | Originally published: ;

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is beefing up his political operation, hiring two former Republican National Committee staffers to serve as deputy political directors on his emerging campaign.

Walker’s political group, Our American Revival, has hired Danny O’Driscoll and Wells Griffith, according to a spokesperson, adding to a team heavy with former talent from the Republican Party’s national office, including former political director Rick Wiley as campaign manager. The pair “will split the country to help identify, engage and mobilize supporters from grassroots organizations to elected officials, potential donors, state parties and allied groups,” said communications director Kirsten Kukowski.

O’Driscoll is a veteran of Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, where he served as state director for Wisconsin in the general election and deputy state director in New Hampshire for the Republican primary. After New Hampshire, O’Driscoll worked on Romney primary wins in Florida, Michigan, and Ohio. Griffith was Deputy Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee in the 2012 cycle and unsuccessfully ran for Congress from his native Alabama in a special election in 2013. He also served as the executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party and managed RNC Chairman Reince Priebus’ re-election campaign in January.

Walker, who finished second in Saturday’s Conservative Political Action Conference Straw Poll, appears all-in on a White House bid, with aides using the annual gathering as an opportunity to approach and interview potential staffers.

According to the PAC, the newly hired pair join Walker’s campaign-in-waiting including:

Rick Wiley: Campaign Manager

Ed Goeas: Senior Advisor

Brian Tringali: Pollster

BJ Martino: Pollster

Matt Mason: Political Director

Kirsten Kukowski: Communications Director

AshLee Strong: Press Secretary

Mark Stephenson: Data Director

David Polyansky: Iowa Senior Advisor

Andy Leach: Senior Advisor for New Hampshire

Michael Bir: New Hampshire

Gregg Keller: Senior Advisor

Gary Marx: Senior Advisor

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