Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s political action committee has hired prominent Republican strategist Liz Mair to lead online communication efforts, CNN Politics has learned, taking yet another step toward building a team for what is expected to become a presidential campaign later this year.
Mair’s political consulting firm will advise on social media and blogger outreach for Walker’s PAC, Our American Revival, by providing input on digital strategy and messaging, Mair told CNN on Monday. She’ll be joined by associates Brittany Cover and Dan Blum.
The announcement is part of a hiring spree for Walker, who’s presidential campaign-in-waiting has brought on veteran strategist Rick Wiley as campaign manager and signed up former Mitt Romney strategists Danny O’Driscoll and Wells Griffith. Walker has also lined up influential activists in early-voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.
Mair has a history with Walker’s election machine: She led his online communication strategy during his recall election in 2012, when Democrats waged an aggressive, yet unsuccessful effort to remove Walker from office after he curbed the power of public sector unions in Wisconsin. Dan Blum, an associate with Mair’s group who also worked on the recall campaign, will also consult for the PAC. Blum, who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, also formerly handled rapid response for Republican Sen. Rob Portman’s campaign.
During her career in political advocacy, Mair has consulted with a wide range of Republican campaigns, including possible Walker rivals: In 2008 she directed online communications for the Republican National Committee. Two years later, she led online outreach efforts for Carly Fiorinia’s Senate candidacy in California. She has also consulted with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Early polling show Walker and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush leading a wide Republican pack of possible primary contenders. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in early March found that 18 percent of Republicans currently prefer Walker, just two percentage points ahead of Bush.