With recent polling indicating that Georgia could be in danger of turning purple come November, both the Clinton and Trump campaigns have added staff in the state, preparing for a battle that may wind up fiercer than either side expected.
This week the Clinton campaign told Georgia Democrats that it would be sending Tracey Lewis to the Peach State as a senior adviser with an emphasis on grassroots efforts. Lewis has an extensive history as a campaign operative, including time spent here in Georgia as the COO for Michelle Nunn’s failed U.S. Senate bid in 2014.
Democrats did not contest Georgia in 2012, following a token effort in 2008 when the Obama campaign spent roughly $2 million in advertising and employed upwards of 50 staffers before pulling out in September. Favorable poll numbers and an increasingly unsteady Trump campaign have once again opened the door though, with the Clinton campaign already committing to spend a sizable chunk of money in the state to try and keep the door open. While a Democrat victory here still seems far fetched, forcing the Trump campaign to spend resources defending what should be an no-brainer win could be a savvy political move.
Meanwhile the Trump campaign, in addition to reshuffling its organization at the top via hiring a new chief executive and campaign manager, (probably not a great sign at this stage in the game) is making its own moves in Georgia. The campaign announced Wednesday that Jennifer Hazelton, a friend of InsiderAdvantage, would be coming aboard as Communications Director and Billy Kirkland as a Senior Adviser.
Hazelton, a former TV journalist for CNN and Fox News, brings political experience having served as Communications Director for Rep. Tom Graves in Washington D.C. Kirkland, overseer of David Perdue’s successful U.S. Senate run in 2014, brings a wealth of experience to the table, including a stint as National Field Director for the Faith & Freedom Coalition.
