Ben Carson Picks South Carolina State Director

Ahead of an all-but-certain presidential bid, Republican Ben Carson has chosen a former Newt Gingrich operative as his state director in South Carolina.

Ruth Sherlock has committed to the position, according to Carson’s campaign manager Terry Giles.

Sherlock served this role before as the Deputy State Director for Gingrich’s successful 2012 campaign in South Carolina, and was later promoted to become the Gingrich campaign’s national deputy political director. Sherlock was also the campaign manager and chief of staff for former Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.), and has served as the regional finance director for the Republican National Committee.

Carson, the former head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, is expected to make a formal announcement about a run in May.