DERRY, N.H. — Multiple members of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign staff are pushing back against a Politico report that a staff shakeup has made Joe Allbaugh the new campaign manager and sidelined top strategist Dave Carney to working in New Hampshire.
“There have been no title changes, there have been no additions or subtractions or significant changes since we made the announcement back in October about Allbaugh and [Nelson] Warfield and [Tony] Fabrizio and the other folks,” said Ray Sullivan, Perry’s communications director.
Sullivan denied Politico’s report that Allbaugh was named the new campaign manager—a role he played for former President George W. Bush—and Fabrizio the main strategist. Campaign manager Rob Johnson still has his job, Sullivan said. He added that Allbaugh, a senior adviser, is helping with managerial duties such as scheduling and finances.
“He’s not a political consultant/strategy guy, he’s a manager/implementer,” Sullivan said of Allbaugh, with whom he has worked multiple times over the past decade and a half.
Sullivan said Carney is still the campaign’s chief strategist and is focused on messaging and details such as how much time the Texas governor is spending in each state.
Members of Perry’s campaign staff will be traveling more as the election approaches, Sullivan added. Johnson has already been spending more time on the road with Perry in New Hampshire and Iowa and at debates.
“He’s just kind of a closer eyes and ears on the ground, helping manage our efforts in the state,” Sullivan said.
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