Phil Ammann
In the lead-up to Iowa and New Hampshire, Marco Rubio’s campaign adds two staff members from the U.S. Senate, including a former Mitt Romney press aide.
Kristine Michalson, who has been press secretary for Indiana Republican Sen. Dan Coats and the Joint Economic Committee, will be Rubio’s new director of press advance, Roll Call reports.
“You will find me in a variety of excellent states asking venues if they have Wi-Fi for the incoming media,” Michalson said in a statement. She also worked press advance for Romney’s 2012 campaign. In 2008, she began her political career with Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn.
Michalson makes the second senior Senate press aide with campaign experience poached by the Florida Republican in the past few days. Micah Johnson is also coming on board from Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker’s office, where she was press secretary.
“After five truly incredible years, Friday will be my last day in the United States Senate,” Johnson said in a statement to the Nashville Post. “Senator Corker is the first elected official for which I ever cast a ballot. He gave me my first college internship and my first job after graduation. Working for him and serving the people of my home state has been the honor of a lifetime.”
Johnson will be Rubio’s regional spokeswoman. Her replacement has not yet been announced.
