Tim Pawlenty’s struggling campaign suffered another setback on Wednesday when Al Hubbard, a former director of the National Economic Council during the Bush Administration, left the campaign.
Hubbard, the co-founder of an Indianapolis-based acquisition firm and a close political advisor to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, had
been a top policy advisor to the former Minnesota governor’s presidential campaign.
Joining the Pawlenty campaign in early June — shortly after the 62-year-old Daniels announced that he wouldn’t be a candidate for the White House — Hubbard’s involvement in the Minnesotan’s campaign was hailed as a coup of sorts, particularly since frontrunner Mitt Romney was also eagerly wooing several individuals close to the Indiana governor, many of whom had ties to the Bush Administration.
“Al Hubbard not only has clout with the vast network of Governor Daniels’ supporters, but also carries weight with policy makers and thought leaders nationally,” Pawlenty said in a statement announcing that Hubbard had joined his campaign. “His addition to our team adds even more momentum to my campaign that is focused on offering honest solutions to the challenges facing America.”
Though it has long since faded, if indeed it ever existed, that “momentum” included the additions of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina and ex-Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia — a former Gingrich supporter — both of whom joined Pawlenty’s campaign the same week as Hubbard.
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