New Culver campaign manager

As you may recall, Andrew Roos, Culver’s first 2010 campaign manager left the post in late 2009.  Now, as 2010 gets rolling, Culver’s staff releases news that a new campaign manager has been hired, one who has ties to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards’ 008 Iowa Caucus campaign. 

Culver has had connections with the Edwards crew before.  Culver”s former chief of staff, Patrick Dillon, worked for Edwards in ’04 and Dillon’s wife, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, managed Edwards 2008 Iowa Caucus campaign.   (Patrick Dillon now works in the White House political operation while Jennifer O’Malley Dillon worked on Obama’s general election campaign and now heads the D.N.C.) Culver’s first press secretary was Brad Anderson, who worked on Edwards’ 2004 campaign.  In addition, Culver’s wife endorsed Edwards before the 2004 and the 2008 Iowa Caucuses.

Read the Culver news release below.

CURRAN JOINS CULVER/JUDGE TEAM AS CAMPAIGN MANAGER
DES MOINES – Today the Culver/Judge Campaign is announcing the addition of Abby Curran as campaign manager.   Effective immediately, Curran will direct operations of the Chet Culver Committee as preparations for the 2010 campaign are finalized.

“Abby is going to be a great addition to our team,” Governor Chet Culver said Thursday.  “We’re fortunate to have a campaign leader with Iowa experience who understands the importance of job creation, educational excellence and government reform. There is no doubt she will help us continue to move Iowa forward.”

Curran is deeply familiar with Iowa politics, having served as Deputy Iowa Field Director for John Edwards’ 2008 caucus campaign.  Curran also worked in Dubuque in 2003 and 2004 as a field organizer for Dick Gephardt’s caucus campaign.

“One of the things Abby understands well is the need to engage our supporters all across the state,” Lt. Governor Patty Judge said. “Our campaign must be active and strong in all 99 counties, and Abby comes prepared with the knowledge of how to make that happen.”      

Curran’s experience also includes managing congressional campaigns in New Jersey and Indiana.  

“I could not be more excited to join Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge’s re-election effort,” Curran said. “Over the past three years, the Culver/Judge Administration has confronted the state’s challenges head-on and worked to strengthen Iowa’s economy today and long-term.  I look forward to helping Governor Culver deliver that positive message over the next 10 months.”

Curran said she is looking forward to assembling the campaign team and organizing supporters as the Governor and Lt. Governor prepare for the general election.

Curran is a graduate of the University of Virginia.