Iowa Tea Party leader joins Ben Carson’s campaign

Dr. Ben Carson (R) has landed an influential Iowa Tea Party leader to work on his likely presidential campaign.

{mosads}Ryan Rhodes, one of the movement’s founding Iowa members, will join Carson’s political action committee with plans to help him navigate the state’s caucuses, should he make a run. 

“I’m joining team Carson,” Rhodes tells The Hill. “I’m going to be working with his American Legacy [PAC] stuff. If he decides to move forward on a presidential bid, I’d love to see that happen and I’ll be part of that effort.”

The hire could be significant as Carson looks to make waves in the early-voting state.

Rhodes chose Carson after talking to other likely candidates, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R).

“Restoring the American Dream is very important to me and I really think he embodies that,” Rhodes said in explaining his choice.

Carson has been gearing up for a presidential bid — he used a Thursday speech at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting to take on his critics, and will be in Iowa next weekend to deliver a speech at Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) presidential cattle call. Polls indicate he has generated a lot of interest in Iowa and could be a serious player in the state, though it remains to be seen how he fares on the campaign trail.

Rhodes backed Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) during the last caucuses after being approached by a number of candidates. Bachmann later flamed out after winning the Iowa Straw Poll.