Former Gore aide joins Clark
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By BONNA de la CRUZ
Staff Writer
The Tennessean
Tuesday, 12/23/03
tennessean.com
Tennessee political fund-raising guru Johnny Hayes is the latest member of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign team to take a job in Wesley Clark's bid for the White House.
Hayes, a former Tennessee Valley Authority board member from Sumner County, was Gore's national finance chairman and last year served as finance chairman for Phil Bredesen's campaign for governor.
''I feel comfortable with him,'' Hayes said of the retired Army general. ''He's a real leader. He's someone who can relate to Tennessee and in other areas of the South.''
Hayes will raise money nationally and help organize Tennessee and the South, said Matt Bennett, Clark's communications director.
Clark campaign officials said they will announce Hayes' ''lofty'' position on the national staff when Clark visits Nashville on Dec. 30. While in Nashville next Tuesday, part of a two-day swing through Southern states, the Arkansas native will attend a fund-raiser and give remarks at a public rally at the Freedom Center building at Eighth Avenue North and Union Street.
''He's an absolutely enormous asset to the campaign,'' Bennett said of Hayes. ''He brings with him a wealth of experience and a group of friends and supporters and admirers.''
Bennett himself is a Gore alum, having served as the campaign trip director. Others working for Clark with Gore connections include Chris Lehane, Gore's campaign press secretary, who is now a senior strategist for Clark, and Ron Klain, Gore's chief of staff, who is helping Clark with debate preparation and as an adviser.
Gore, meanwhile, has endorsed Howard Dean. |
