Bachmann picks up seasoned GOP operative to run Iowa media operations

Image has not been found. URL: http://images.americanindependent.com/2012-80.jpgThe presidential campaigns of U.S. Reps. Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul have announced additional support in the Hawkeye State.

Veteran communications consultant Eric Woolson, who most recently worked for the Tim Pawlenty campaign, will now lead Bachmann’s Iowa communication efforts.

“Eric Woolson is well-known not only by Iowa reporters and party activists but he has also earned a reputation among the national media as someone who works hard, knows his state and gets things done,” Bachmann said. “We’re very happy to have someone with his experience and can-do attitude join us as we begin the critical push to win the Iowa caucuses.”

Woolson managed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s 2008 Iowa campaign, and provides the Bachmann team with more than 20 years of experience as a print journalist in Iowa. Woolson also served as Gov. Terry Branstad’s communications director and press secretary.

Prior to his service in the governor’s office, Woolson was the Iowa communications director for George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign, and served on the communications teams of the previous three Republican National Conventions. In 2010, he provided counsel to Iowa gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats and congressional candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks in addition to serving as the spokesman for U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley’s re-election campaign.

In addition, two Clay County GOP officials have given their endorsement to Paul’s White House bid.

“The reason I was first impressed with Congressman Paul and continue to be is his strong stand to preserve our individual freedoms, personal responsibility and States’ rights, and to limit the power of the federal government,” said Clay County Republican Chairwoman Kris Thiessen.

The first round of federal bailouts and stimulus inspired Thiessen to organize Spencer’s first Tax Day Tea Party rally. A small business owner for 25 years, she has led the Clay County GOP since July 2010. Her husband George is a 20-year Navy reservist who served in Afghanistan in 2006 and also supports Paul.

“I am starting to hear people say, ‘This is the Age of Ron Paul.’ I think they are right. It’s the age where Americans across the country are saying our government is too big. Republican candidate Congressman Ron Paul is the only one who will bring sanity to the White House,” said Thiessen.

She publicly endorsed Paul at his Spencer Town Hall on Tuesday, which attracted 135 supporters and interested voters.

“Ron Paul’s economic plan and his principles of limited government are what our nation needs more than any other political promise that is being touted. Whether we want to realize and admit it or not, things have really changed economically to the point of threatening our national security,” said Josh Davenport, Clay County Republican Party co-chairman.

Davenport is a Baptist pastor in Spencer, as well as a Spencer Tea Party leader. He says that most people would consider him to be an evangelical fundamentalist Christian, and that he supported Huckabee in the last presidential cycle. Adding that he likes a lot of what Paul’s colleague Bachmann says, he settled on the idea that Paul has a solid track record.

“So many things have happened that Ron Paul said would happen, what he says makes sense to me and he has a proven legislative track record to prove what he would do as president. Our nation is tired of the nonsense. The people don’t want to vote for another party-establishment candidate who won’t dare to make the necessary changes and Ron Paul is the only one who can defeat President Obama in 2012,” Davenport said.