Monday, December 14, 2009

D'Annunzio lands ex-McCrory strategist

Republican Tim D'Annunzio, a wealthy Hoke County businessman running for Congress in the 8th District, has hired former N.C. Republican chairman Jack Hawke as a top strategist.

"It's obviously a wide-open race," Hawke said today. "Tim has the resources to be a formidable candidate."

D'Annunzio (left) is one of at least five GOP candidates trying to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell but the one with the deepest pockets. He put $300,000 of his own money into the race shortly after announcing this fall.

Hawke was top adviser for Republican Pat McCrory's gubernatorial campaign last year. On Sunday D'Annunzio lost another former McCroory adviser when Chris Emanuel of Charlotte resigned as deputy campaign manager, citing "managerial differences."

Emanuel, meanwhile, was among more than a dozen veterans of the McCrory campaign who met for a holiday party last night at Charlotte's "Tavern on the Green." McCrory said it wasn't a preview of a possible 2012 race.

“I always said we'd stay together regardless of what happens in the future,” he said.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Many thought McCrory would be running for this slot even though this could be what will happen anyway. He would have to wait 8 yrs to be gov and would rather be in DC in the House and then Senate.

McCrory clearly wants to be president of the United States one day but would accept a VP slot under Palin if he had too.

Thats a real possibility ...

Anonymous said...

Let's see if an outsider like Jack Hawke can "manage" Tim any better from Raleigh than Chris Emanuel could from Charlotte.

Hawke managed to keep a sure thing like McCrory out of the Governor's Mansion, so I have every confidence he can keep Tim off the Internet a few more months.

Anonymous said...

Dont tell me that Tim is not going to post on Blogs now. That was going to make this race worth watching. Next thing you will be saying is that Hawke will be scripting Tim's words and then will have him talking off tele-a-prompters.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Tim is a big fan of speaking his mind after dark.

http://campaigntracker.blogspot.com/2009/12/gop-rival-tells-big-guy-stay-out-of-our.html

Thus the "managerial differences" by respectable Campaign Managers.

Best of luck Jack Hawke, President of Civitas!

From Raleigh.

Anonymous said...

You are wrong. Hawke worked FOR McCrory, and almost won in spite of overwhelming odds.

He's the perfect person to take Tim over the finish line.

Tim raised $40,000 with this fundraiser by his former company he sold to the government alone!

http://www.paracletexp.com/node/108

See!!!

Anonymous said...

So, Jack Hawke's credentials are being in charge of losing campaigns...

Anonymous said...

No!

Maybe.

QUIT TALKING LIBERAL MEDIA!

Civitas has this one. It's being run from Raleigh!

Anonymous said...

...now. Just adding now.

When this campaign was all stupid it was Chris Emanuel's fault because it was being run from Charlotte. In the District. Unlike that sports caster. Who's...not from Raleigh, like my new Campaign Manger. Er, right.

I NEVER SAID I WAS PERFECT! JUST CONSERVATIVE!!!!!!!!!

SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

If this guy is the GOP nominee, congratulations to Kissell on winning his re-election campaign,

The Logic Connection said...

After attending one of his town hall meetings last week, I concur with the above comment. The GOP better get it together or Kissel is going to have an easy time winning a second term.