Trump poaches campaign staffer from Perry

by Bradford Richardson - 08/25/15 7:15 PM ET

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has stolen away a key contributor from fading rival Rick Perry’s campaign.

Trump’s team hired prominent Iowa Republican Sam Clovis to be his campaign’s national co-chairman, according to The Washington Post.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Clovis to our team and am confident he will be a great asset in Iowa and around the country as we continue to lead all local and national polls and share my vision to make American great again,” Trump said in a statement.

{mosads}Clovis joins Team Trump just a day after resigning from his post as Rick Perry’s Iowa chairman.

“I feel bad for the campaign and I feel bad for Gov. Perry, because I think he’s a marvelous human being, he’s a great man and it was my honor to be a part of this, but it was just time to move on,” Clovis said Monday.

Clovis also said he was no longer being paid by the Perry campaign, which is struggling to raise money.

In addition to Clovis, Trump announced he is hiring five more staffers, all from key primary states.

In Nevada, Trump has hired Charles Munoz to be his state director.

In South Carolina, Nancy Mace will serve as state coalitions director and James Epley as upstate regional director.

In New Hampshire, Jane Maciejowski Gambuzza will serve as office manager and Jonathan W. Dimock has been brought on as a field representative.

Tags Donald Trump Rick Perry