Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) and the general consultant who was advising his primary bid against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have parted ways. Consultant Jason Rose, who advised the campaign on strategy, media and finance, said his resignation from Hayworth’s campaign was effective March 12.

[IMGCAP(1)]“Around the time of the [campaign] announcement we had still not resolved our contract,” Rose said, adding that they decided to temporarily table the matter. He said the contract remained unresolved and “us wanting more money and J.D. being more conservative with the bucks, I decided to call it a day and wish everybody well.”

According to a fundraising meter on Hayworth’s Web site, the former Congressman had raised only 26 percent of his $1 million goal for the month as of press time Wednesday. Nonetheless, Rose was optimistic about how much money Hayworth would be able to raise by the end of the month, as fundraising remains a key hurdle for him to be able to wage an effective campaign against McCain.

“People are going to be surprised by the amount of money,” Rose said.

Rose also consults for two other Republican candidates in Arizona: Paul Gosar running in the 1st district and Vernon Parker in the 3rd district.

Hayworth’s campaign manager did not return a request for comment.

Oh Danny Boy. Republican communications consultant Danny Diaz has signed on to work for four campaigns so far this cycle, including Rep. Mark Kirk’s (R) Senate bid against Illinois state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D).

In addition to Kirk’s bid, Diaz is working as a communications adviser for former Rep. Rob Simmons’ (R-Conn.) bid for Senate. He’s also signed on to advise attorney Christopher Cox (R) in New York’s 1st district and Susana Martinez’s (R) gubernatorial bid in New Mexico.

Frank Talk. Former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta (R) has made some staffing changes already this year in his campaign for New Hampshire’s 1st district. Although Guinta was the early favorite of the National Republican Congressional Committee, lackluster fundraising and an increasingly crowded primary field have hurt his campaign and his chances of winning the nomination to face Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) this fall.

Communications consultant Alicia Preston parted ways with the campaign earlier this year, and Guinta has also switched up his finance team. Ethan Zorfas has replaced Darcy Johnson as the campaign finance director, while New Hampshire native Andrew Theodore has come on board to raise money for Guinta in Washington, D.C.

Preston reports that she continues to work as a communications consultant with businessman Jason Levesque (R) in Maine’s 2nd district, businessman Jon Golnick (R) in Massachusetts’ 5th district and former state Sen. Rob Russo (R) in Connecticut’s 4th district.

Strike While the Irons Is Hot. The David All Group has tapped veteran communications strategist Todd Irons to join the growing new media and communications firm as its new vice president.

Irons formerly served as deputy communications director at the Republican National Committee, but he left in late 2009 after Republicans scored victories in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. Irons has also held senior positions at other firms including ViaNovo, Qorvis Communications and Porter Novelli.

Slam Duncan. A college professor, a chief of staff and a veteran reporter walk into a Congressional campaign. While that might sound like a joke, it’s actually the campaign team for South Carolina state Rep. Jeff Duncan (R).

Duncan is one of several Republicans looking to succeed Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.), who is running for governor. To assist his bid, he’s brought on Barrett’s former longtime chief of staff, Lance Williams, as his general consultant.

Duncan also tapped his former college professor at Clemson University, Dave Woodard, to do his polling. Woodard is no stranger to the survey business, however, having done polls for Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) first House bid in 1994.

Veteran South Carolina political reporter Dan Hoover, who ended his journalism career at the Greenville News, has signed on as communications director.

Campaign manager Allen Klump and political director Billy Boyleston help round out the campaign team.

Joy to the World. Susan B. Anthony List Communications Director Joy Yearout has left the conservative anti-abortion group to join a gubernatorial campaign in Michigan. Yearout will head to her home state of Michigan to serve as deputy communications director for Attorney General Mike Cox’s (R) gubernatorial bid.

Before working for the Susan B. Anthony List, Yearout was a chief of staff in the Michigan Legislature.

John McArdle and Emily Cadei contributed to this report.

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