The Buttigieg campaign, bursting with money, strengthens its workforce

Bend South Mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign has come a long way since his humble roots.

In recent weeks, Buttigieg has recruited many new employees to strengthen its growing business. Hillary for America, George Hornedo, was recently appointed Campaign Director. In addition, start-up companies in Silicon Valley often tend to hire a "director of innovation," the former chief engineer of Google, Ann Mei Chang, and a creative director, Jillian Maryonovich, Obama White House aluminum.

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The campaign also strengthened its communications team, led by New York official Lis Smith. She recently recruited Nina Smith (no relation) as a traveling national press officer and added two national press attachés: Tess Whittlesey and Marisol Samayoa. Constance Boozer was hired as director of alternative communications and Manuel Bonder joined the campaign as a media monitor.

Some of Buttigeig's recruits turned heads in the insular world of Democratic agents. For example, Earlier this month, senior announcers and senior advertising executives Larry Grisolano and John Del Cecato of AKPD Message and Media pledged to consult for the campaign. Grisolano was director of Paid Media and Obama's opinion research in 2008.

As of May 31, the Buttigieg Presidential Team has grown considerably from a tiny operation to a few employees. Now, the campaign has about 80 staff members – 55 percent of them women – after soaring in the first three months of the year with a $ 7 million fundraiser. Reflecting its growth and maturation, this week's campaign held a day of reflection and set out a set of guiding principles for staff.

Buttigieg's surveys increased in line with its payroll. A POLITICO / Morning Consult survey conducted from May 20-26 revealed that he was tied for fourth among almost two dozen Democratic candidates running for president at 7 percent alongside Senator Kamala Harris. The poll revealed that former Vice President Joe Biden and Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were in front of them.