Sen. Tim Scott ramps up Iowa presidential campaign operation, names key staffers
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott is ramping up his Iowa operation after formally jumping into the presidential primary contest, naming key staffers in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
They include veteran Iowa operative Annie Kelly Kuhle, a partner at FP1 Strategies, as a senior adviser.
She has served on two presidential campaigns, including as Jeb Bush's 2016 effort as Iowa state director. And she's worked as the regional political director at both the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee, as well as for a host of other campaigns and committees.
She's joined by Jeff Glassburner as Iowa state director. Glassburner worked at the Republican National Committee as a deputy regional data director overseeing 13 states, and he's managed four statewide campaigns across three states.
"Jeff, Annie, and the rest of our Iowa team are the best of the best," Scott's national campaign manager, Jennifer DeCasper, said in a statement. "Their deep experience and tenacity will give our campaign a distinct edge. I’m so glad they’re on our team."
George Anderson, Cole Kramersmeier and Andy Finzer will serve as Iowa regional political directors. Anderson and Kramersmeier are native Iowans who worked for the Republican Party of Iowa as regional political directors, and Finzer is a longtime Iowa resident who worked for the Iowa Senate Majority Fund.
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"Iowans are ready for Tim Scott’s message of faith, opportunity, and protecting the America we love," Glassburner said in a statement. "Throughout these last few weeks, we’ve seen a resounding response to Tim here in the Hawkeye State. We’ll do all we can to make sure he’s our next president."
Scott announced his campaign in May and returns to Iowa this weekend. He's planning to host local business owners for a roundtable discussion in the Council Bluffs area Friday before attending a town hall in the evening. On Saturday, he'll travel to Des Moines to attend U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's annual Roast and Ride fundraiser.
Scott enters the race with a sizeable war chest of $22 million, which could help him lay the organizational groundwork he'll need to take on his better-polling rivals.
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He's already begun reaching out to Iowa Republicans, emphasizing his biography and his family's story as he communicates a more optimistic vision of the future.
He has also emphasized his faith and has begun making inroads with Republican pastors who are key to unlocking Iowa's critical evangelical vote.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Sen. Tim Scott ramps up Iowa presidential campaign, names key staffers
