Graham's campaign manager

Bill Graham has named Marty Ryall as his campaign manager.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate announced today that he hired the former adviser to Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's 1993 campaign for lieutenant governor.

In a statement, Huckabee, now a presidential candidate, praised Ryall.

"I've tried twice to hire him for my presidential campaign and both times, someone has beaten me to it," he said. "They are smart to get him, and I wish I'd called sooner!"

Ryall also successfully managed the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell and Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher and served as a member of the Bush-Cheney Florida recount team in 2000.

He chaired the Arkansas Republican Party from 2002 to 2003.