Trump campaign hires former Walker aide

Donald Trump’s campaign has hired veteran GOP operative Rick Wiley to work as national political director.

Wiley previously served as campaign manager for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s presidential run and for Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus as the party’s national political director.

{mosads}His new role will be to head the campaign’s field operations in the states with upcoming primaries and to prepare for a general election.

“Rick is a seasoned political expert with a very successful career in winning elections,” Trump said in a statement. 

“He brings decades of experience, and his deep ties to political leaders and activists across the country will be a tremendous asset as we enter the final phase of securing the nomination.”

Wiley touted Trump’s ability to take on the issues facing the country.

“Voters are frustrated with the political status quo in our country and are hungry for an outsider to shake up Washington,” he said in a statement.

“Donald Trump has energized millions of hard working people across the country with his no-nonsense straight talk and will bring his record of success to tackle the real problems that face our nation.”

Wiley will work out of Washington, where Trump will soon open an office, the Washington Post reported. 

In his earlier position at the RNC, he helped 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney with his ground game in the general election.

Walker, who dropped out of the presidential race last year, endorsed Trump’s rival Ted Cruz ahead of the Wisconsin primary.

Wiley also served as the deputy national political director for the 2008 presidential campaign of Rudy Giuliani — who is now backing Trump. 

In March, Trump’s campaign hired Paul Manafort, another Republican strategist who has experience with nomination fights and helped to manage the convention floor for Gerald Ford during the 1976 race.

– Updated at 5:04 p.m.