ABOUT:
Defense policy analysis, commentary and discussion.Retired Army officer Mike McCalister has hired two campaign strategists for his GOP Senate bid in a crowded field hoping to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) next fall.
McCalister declared his candidacy in December and tried to boost his long-shot status against at least three rivals in a speech last weekend at the Republican Leadership Conference, an event broadcast on C-SPAN.
McCalister hired Buzz Jacobs, the southeast regional campaign manager for Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign, and former McCain campaign staffer John Yob.
McCalister ran in the 2010 gubernatorial primary and garnered a surprising
10 percent of the vote against then-Attorney General Bill McCollum and executive Rick Scott. He raised only $8,350 in his gubernatorial bid, but he appears to want to raise more money this run.
In an email to supporters Tuesday, he used his RLC speech to ask for funds. “I need to demonstrate to America that conservatives are ready to send another hard charging Colonel to Washington to fight the liberal, special interests and career politicians,” he wrote.
Want Roll Call on your doorstep?
SIGN UPAlready a subscriber?
Sign up to have the print PDF emailed to you.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
