Republican Perry Back in NH, Announces Leadership Team

Former Gov. Rick Perry is back in New Hampshire holding events in Meredith this morning and a cookout and rally at Nashua Community College with a number of retired U.S. Navy Seals at 4 p.m.

As part of his first trip to the Granite State since announcing that he would run again in 2016, the campaign also announced its leadership team. The campaign stated that it would “benefit from the advice and counsel of the following conservatives,” including Mike Dennehy, who will serve as senior advisor in New Hampshire.

Dante Vitagliano, the deputy political director for the Marilinda Garcia for Congress effort in 2014, will serve as political director in New Hampshire. Another Garcia staffer joining the effort is Ryder Selmi, who will work as the state’s senior field manager. Selmi was the North Country field manager for the Garcia campaign. Selmi was also an ambassador for the campus-based organization, Turning Point USA.

Dennehy, who managed John McCain’s upset victory in the New Hampshire presidential primary in 2000, and his come from behind win in the 2008, said there was “energy and excitement building” for Perry in the Granite State.

“No other candidate connects with Granite Staters better than the governor,” he said. “We’ve only just begun assembling an experienced team that will help put Gov. Perry in a position to bring home a medal from the First in the Nation Primary state next February.”