DES MOINES – Senator Barack Obama’s campaign for president today announced the hiring of Josh Earnest to lead the campaign’s communications operation in Iowa. The announcement comes one week after Senator Obama completed his fifth trip to Iowa and visited his 20th county since declaring his candidacy for president two months ago.
“Earnest’s hiring reflects our campaign’s commitment to dedicating significant resources and talent to talk to Iowans about Senator Obama’s vision for changing politics as usual in Washington, DC,” said Iowa State Director Paul Tewes. “We’re pleased he’s agreed to lead the talented team that we already have in place in Iowa.”
Earnest will lead an Iowa communications staff that includes Iowa Press Secretary Tommy Vietor who was a spokesman in Senator Obama’s Senate office, Iowa Deputy Press Secretary Gannet Tseggai formerly a press aide for Senator Ted Kennedy and Iowa Press Assistant Bobby Gravitz who filled a similar role on former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s campaign for president.
Earnest served as National Communications Director for Tom Vilsack’s presidential campaign until the former Iowa governor ended his campaign in February. Last year, Earnest was the Communications Director for Jim Davis’s campaign for Florida governor. Before moving to Florida, Earnest did a 2 ½ year stint at the Democratic National Committee, including a year as National Press Secretary in 2005.
