Mike Henry Returns to Va. Politics to Run Kaine Campaign
Virginia Senate candidate Tim Kaine announced Thursday that Mike Henry will be running his campaign operation once again.
Henry has a long history in Democratic politics in Virginia, including managing Kaine’s 2005 run for governor, now-Sen. Mark Warner’s 2008 campaign and Terry McAuliffe’s unsuccessful 2009 gubernatorial bid. Henry ran the independent expenditure effort for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2006, and most recently he’s been serving as a senior director of the ONE Campaign.
“I’m proud to announce that Mike Henry will be joining our team as campaign manager,” Kaine said in a statement. “His expertise when it comes to Virginia is unmatched. I look forward to seeing the campaign benefit from Mike’s extraordinary leadership.”
Henry is one of several consultants that worked on Kaine’s gubernatorial bid who is coming back for his likely general election matchup with former Sen. George Allen (R). Pollster Pete Brodnitz, senior adviser Mo Elleithee and media consultants David Eichenbaum and Karl Struble are back to help Kaine in his next challenge.
Kaine also announced other campaign additions on Thursday, including Eli Kaplan as new media consultant. Kaplan, of Rising Tide Interactive, held similar positions on the campaigns of Warner and McAuliffe.
Kaine made three appointments to his finance committee. Businessman Warren Thompson will serve as treasurer; former Virginia Treasurer Jody Wagner, who lost a 2009 bid for lieutenant governor, will serve as deputy treasurer; and CarMax co-founder Austin Ligon is finance chairman.