So much for the garage band.
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory has hired the Keith Richards of the North Carolina Republican Party.
Jack Hawke, a veteran GOP strategist, has signed on as the lead consultant for McCrory.
When McCrory entered the race last month, he declared he was going to run a garage band campaign. But after some early stumbles he has had second thoughts.
Hawke, a 66-year old Zebulon resident, managed the last successful Republican campaign for governor—Jim Martin in 1984.
He also was chief strategist for Jim Gardner’s successful 1988 camapign for lieutenant governor, helped Virginia Foxx get elected to Congess in 2004, and was state GOP party chairman for eight years, the longest of anybody in history.
He was also one of several consultants for Richard Vinroot's unsuccessful 2000 campaign for governor.
More after the jump.
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Hawke recently stepped down as president of the Civitas Institute, a Raleigh-based think tank associated with conservative businessman Art Pope.
Hawke will try to lead McCrory through a crowded Republican primary field that includes state Sen. Fred Smith, Salisbury attorney Bill Graham and former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr.
Although McCrory has entered the GOP primary late, Hawke noted polling numbers suggesting that McCrory would be a strong candidate.
"This is the first time I've seen a Republican start almost even with potential Democratic nominees," Hawke said.
"I think there is a great opportunity for him to win," he said. "Any candidate who can win seven times in a city that is Democratic leaning has to be a pretty good candidate."
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