Top members of former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s campaign are departing in a major shakeup as the brewpub owner-turned-politician tries to turn around his struggling presidential bid.

Campaign manager Brad Komar and national finance director Dan Sorenson have left the campaign. Spokeswoman Lauren Hitt confirmed their departures and said she, too, will exit the campaign in the coming weeks.

The departures come after the close of the second quarter of campaign fundraising. Hickenlooper is expected to lag well behind the Democratic National Committee’s benchmark of 130,000 donors needed to qualify for the debate stage in September — one of several candidates who could fail to meet that threshold.

Hickenlooper, who served two terms as governor of a Western swing state, has struggled to gain attention in the crowded Democratic field. He has touted moderate positions and repeatedly warned Democrats they risk being tagged as socialists by tacking too far to the left.

But with several candidates, and many Democratic voters, embracing more liberal positions, Hickenlooper’s message — or at least the messenger — has failed to resonate. He was roundly booed last month at the California Democratic Party convention when he condemned socialism .

Hickenlooper’s team projected optimism about the future, announcing that the candidate had hired a new campaign manager, M.E. Smith.

Smith ran Sen. Bob Casey’s successful re-election campaign in Pennsylvania last year. She was Hickenlooper’s deputy campaign manager in 2014, when Komar ran the governor’s successful re-election effort amid a Republican wave.

At least one of Hickenlooper’s departing staffers was headed to a rival campaign. Sorenson, the finance director, will join former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s campaign, O’Rourke’s team confirmed late Monday.

Sorenson’s departure had been in the works for some time. He previously notified the campaign that he intended to leave but stayed on until the end of the second fundraising quarter, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. </s> A day after the second fundraising quarter ended and after his national finance director left to join former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke's presidential campaign, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper shook up his own presidential campaign staff.

On Monday night, Hickenlooper named M.E. Smith his campaign manager, replacing Brad Komar. A spokesperson confirmed the departure of Hickenlooper's national finance director, Dan Sorenson, for O'Rourke's campaign. Politico first reported Sorenson's defection to O'Rourke.

Smith most recently served as campaign manager for Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey's successful reelection. Smith was also Sen. Michael Bennet's deputy campaign manager in 2016 and deputy campaign manager for Hickenlooper's gubernatorial reelection campaign in 2014.

Hickenlooper campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said of Sorenson in a statement to CBS News, "We wish him the best on his future endeavors."

But Hitt, too, is leaving Hickenlooper's campaign. She told CBS News she would be transitioning out of the job in the next couple of weeks.

A source with knowledge of the campaign says the staffers leaving Hickenlooper's team were not fired but decided to leave.

Hickenlooper has been criticizing progressive plans like "Medicare for All" and the "Green New Deal" as unrealistic economically, while defending the role of the private sector and capitalism in the U.S. economy. The popular two-term Colorado governor has been lagging in the polls, registering under 1% in a CNN survey taken after last week's first primary debates.

Sarah Ewall-Wice and Stephen Sanchez contributed to this report. </s> DENVER — John Hickenlooper has refused to yield to pressure from his team to scrap his presidential campaign and instead run for a Senate seat in Colorado.

The former two-term Colorado governor is struggling to break through a crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates. He’s in the bottom tier of polling, hasn’t generated significant fundraising and is at risk of being eliminated from the fall debates.

The discussion about exiting the race was described by a Democrat familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy. Politico first reported the conversations.

While Hickenlooper’s presidential campaign is facing steep hurdles, a Senate bid might not be much easier. A dozen Democrats have already announced challenges to Republican Sen. Cory Gardner. Two announced this week that they raised more than $1 million in the past quarter, more than Hickenlooper is thought to have raised for his presidential bid over the same period.

Hickenlooper, a brewpub owner-turned-politician, launched his White House campaign in March. The future of his candidacy is under scrutiny as his campaign undergoes a major shakeup.

Campaign manager Brad Komar and national finance director Dan Sorenson have left the campaign. Spokeswoman Lauren Hitt confirmed their departures and said she, too, will exit the campaign in the coming weeks.

The departures come after the close of the second quarter of campaign fundraising. Hickenlooper is expected to lag well behind the Democratic National Committee’s benchmark of 130,000 donors needed to qualify for the debate stage in September. He is one of many candidates who could fail to meet that threshold.

Hickenlooper has tried to establish himself as a leading moderate in the race, repeatedly warning Democrats they risk being tagged as socialists by tacking too far to the left.

But with several candidates, and many Democratic voters, embracing more liberal positions, Hickenlooper’s message — or at least the messenger — has failed to resonate. He was roundly booed last month at the California Democratic Party convention when he condemned socialism.

Hickenlooper’s team projected optimism about the future, announcing that the candidate had hired a new campaign manager, M.E. Smith.

Smith ran Sen. Bob Casey’s successful reelection campaign in Pennsylvania last year. She was Hickenlooper’s deputy campaign manager in 2014 when Komar ran the governor’s successful reelection effort amid a Republican wave.

At least one of Hickenlooper’s departing staffers was headed to a rival presidential campaign. Sorenson, the finance director, will join former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s campaign, O’Rourke’s team confirmed late Monday.

Sorenson’s departure had been in the works for some time. He previously notified the campaign that he intended to leave but stayed on until the end of the second fundraising quarter, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. </s> Former Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper announced he is dropping out of the presidential race, ahead of the third round of Democratic primary debates next month.

“Even though this campaign didn’t have the conclusion we were hoping for, every moment of it has been worthwhile,” Hickenlooper said in a statement on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Hickenlooper signaled that he will consider running for the US Senate to unseat Republican incumbent Cory Gardner.

Opinion writer Jennifer Rubin applauded Hickenlooper’s exit, saying downsizing his party’s crowded candidate field can help Democratic voters decide on the best person to run against US President Donald Trump in the presidential race.

Hickenlooper announced his candidacy in March, striking a moderate tone among his Democratic opponents. He emphasized on his successful administrative record in Colorado on the campaign trail, but after two appearances on national debate stages, his campaign was lagging behind in securing the poll and donor numbers needed to put him through the third round of debate.

Hickenlooper, 67, previously served as the mayor of Denver and the governor of Colorado. </s> (Reuters) - Five senior advisers are leaving the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign of Democrat John Hickenlooper after staff urged the former Colorado governor to quit the race as his fundraising flounders, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

Hickenlooper's campaign confirmed the departures on Tuesday. On Monday, the candidate announced he was hiring M.E. Smith to succeed former campaign manager Bradley Komar.

The centrist former governor, one of 25 Democrats seeking the party's nomination to run against incumbent Republican Donald Trump, would not quit, the source said.

Asked whether his staff were let go or quit, Hickenlooper, 67, told MSNBC on Tuesday that it was "a combination of the two - we felt that it was time to make a change."

"I used to be in the restaurant business and it's a little bit like putting a restaurant together. Sometimes you don't quite get the right team in at the right time," he said.

Staff members discussed the state of the campaign with Hickenlooper at a June meeting, advising him to find a graceful way to bow out of the November 2020 White House contest, said the source, who asked not to be named in order to speak freely.

The campaign has not commented on the June meeting or the fundraising figure, and did not make Smith immediately available to respond.

Hickenlooper brought in donations of $1.1 million the last three months, half of his haul in the first quarter of 2019, the source said. Rivals U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, announced $18 million and $24.8 million in donations, respectively.

Hickenlooper, who also served as mayor of Denver and made his fortune as a brew-pub owner, has sought to distinguish himself in the crowded Democratic field as a moderate who opposes what he calls the socialist policies backed by Sanders.

Hickenlooper's campaign has yet to announce his fundraising for the second quarter, which ended on Sunday. Campaigns must submit reports for the quarter by July 15.

He positions himself as someone who as Colorado governor enacted progressive policies with a bipartisan approach.

Others leaving his campaign include finance director Dan Sorenson, who is going to work for the presidential campaign of former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke; communications director Lauren Hitt; digital director John Schueler and New Hampshire political director Nolan Varee.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Your guide to the latest cricket World Cup stories, analysis, reports, opinions, live updates and scores on https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/series/icc-cricket-world-cup-2019.html. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or like our Facebook page for updates throughout the ongoing event in England and Wales. </s> July 2 (UPI) -- The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate John Hickenlooper is going through a major shakeup, with the loss of five key staffers.

Campaign manager Brad Komar, national finance director Dan Sorenson, communication director Lauren Hitt, digital director John Schueler and New Hampshire political director Nolan Varee have left or intend to leave in the next few weeks, sources told ABC News.

M.E. Smith will take over as campaign manager, The Denver Post reported.

Hitt said she, Komar and Sorenson are leaving the campaign -- Sorenson to competitor Beto O'Rourke's campaign, where he will be the national finance director at the former congressman's base in Texas.

"For personal and professional reasons, it made sense [for Sorenson] to be in Texas," Hitt said.

Hickenlooper does not plan to drop out of the race, but he is fully aware how difficult it's been to break through the crowded field of more than 20 Democratic candidates, CNN reported Tuesday.

Hickenlooper, Colorado's governor between 2011 and January, qualified and participated in the first Democratic debates in Miami last week. His poll numbers, however, have remained around 1 percent.

He will reassess his campaign after the next Democratic debates in Detroit at the end of this month, the reports said. </s> Democratic presidential hopeful John Hickenlooper is bringing on a new campaign manager and losing several key staffers, as his long-shot bid for the White House has struggled to get off the ground.

Mr. Hickenlooper’s campaign said late Monday that M.E. Smith — a former campaign staffer for Mr. Hickenlooper, Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. Michael Bennet — will serve as his new campaign manager.

Ms. Smith replaces Brad Komar, who along with finance director Dan Sorenson is moving on from the campaign, according to multiple reports. Campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt is also expected to leave shortly.

“M.E. has shown again and again that she knows how to lead successful campaigns in politically difficult terrain,” Mr. Hickenlooper said. “With her extensive experience in political strategy, campaign management, and policy, I could not be more excited to have her leading the team.”

The news comes at the close of the second quarter fundraising period, which is likely to show Mr. Hickenlooper well back of top-tier contenders in terms of money raised and cash on hand.

Mr. Hickenlooper, a former governor of Colorado, has tried to carve out a place in the moderate lane of the 2020 Democratic presidential field by criticizing far-reaching policy proposals such as Sen. Bernard Sanders’ “Medicare for All” health care plan and saying repeatedly that Democrats must reject “socialism” in order to defeat President Trump. </s> (Reuters) - Five senior advisers are leaving the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign of Democrat John Hickenlooper after staff urged the former Colorado governor to quit the race as his fundraising flounders, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

FILE PHOTO: Author Marianne Williamson and former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper debate during the second night of the first U.S. Democratic presidential candidates 2020 election debate in Miami, Florida, U.S., June 27, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Hickenlooper’s campaign confirmed the departures on Tuesday. On Monday, the candidate announced he was hiring M.E. Smith to succeed former campaign manager Bradley Komar.

The centrist former governor, one of 25 Democrats seeking the party’s nomination to run against incumbent Republican Donald Trump, would not quit, the source said.

Asked whether his staff were let go or quit, Hickenlooper, 67, told MSNBC on Tuesday that it was “a combination of the two - we felt that it was time to make a change.”

“I used to be in the restaurant business and it’s a little bit like putting a restaurant together. Sometimes you don’t quite get the right team in at the right time,” he said.

Staff members discussed the state of the campaign with Hickenlooper at a June meeting, advising him to find a graceful way to bow out of the November 2020 White House contest, said the source, who asked not to be named in order to speak freely.

The campaign has not commented on the June meeting or the fundraising figure, and did not make Smith immediately available to respond.

Hickenlooper brought in donations of $1.1 million the last three months, half of his haul in the first quarter of 2019, the source said. Rivals U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, announced $18 million and $24.8 million in donations, respectively.

Hickenlooper, who also served as mayor of Denver and made his fortune as a brew-pub owner, has sought to distinguish himself in the crowded Democratic field as a moderate who opposes what he calls the socialist policies backed by Sanders.

Hickenlooper’s campaign has yet to announce his fundraising for the second quarter, which ended on Sunday. Campaigns must submit reports for the quarter by July 15.

He positions himself as someone who as Colorado governor enacted progressive policies with a bipartisan approach.

Others leaving his campaign include finance director Dan Sorenson, who is going to work for the presidential campaign of former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke; communications director Lauren Hitt; digital director John Schueler and New Hampshire political director Nolan Varee. </s> This post was originally published on this site

Political News Five key staffers leaving Hickenlooper campaign in major shakeup https://linewsradio.com/five-key-staffers-leaving-hickenlooper-campaign-in-major-shakeup/ http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/

JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — At least five key aides to John Hickenlooper have confirmed they’re leaving his campaign or intend to do so in the coming weeks.

Brad Komar, campaign manager; Dan Sorenson, national finance director; Lauren Hitt, communications director; John Schueler, digital director; and Nolan Varee, New Hampshire political director are all moving on, decisions all confirmed to ABC News, which was the first to report the departures of Schueler and Varee.

The news comes on the heels of the first Democratic debate, at which the former Colorado governor’s middling bid wasn’t re-energized as was that of several key rivals. Polls after the debate said he failed to stand out on a crowded stage even after weeks of volleyed barbs with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., over socialism.

Perhaps more important, this shakeup comes the day after the close of the second quarter for campaign fundraising, making it especially telling that Hickenlooper’s finance director is among those on their way out.

Hickenlooper, not unlike several fellow 2020ers, was expected to be lagging behind the Democratic National Committee’s 130,000-donor benchmark required to participate in debates in September.

Sorenson confirmed he’ll be moving to Beto O’Rourke’s team as national finance director.

After Hitt told ABC News that “for personal and professional reasons, it made sense to be in Texas” for Sorenson, she confirmed she’d also be “transitioning out” very soon.

The other departing aides may be weighing offers from other campaigns, although it’s unlikely they’ll be following Sorenson en masse to O’Rourke’s, sources told ABC News.

The trail ahead may grow rockier for the Hickenlooper team as Brendan Koch, deputy finance director, also may be leaving the team, one of the five departing staffers told ABC News.

Sources close to the Hickenlooper campaign staff said this shakeup may be a “Hail Mary” pass, especially in the buildup to the next round of debates, a characterization with which departing aides didn’t disagree.

The campaign also just announced it’s hired M.E. Smith as campaign manager to replace Komar, who ran Hickenlooper’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

Serving two terms as governor of Colorado, including during the 2012 Aurora theater shooting, Hickenlooper touted a record of getting progressive things done in a purple state and boasted more moderate positions compared with much of a left-leaning 2020 field.

Hickenlooper has pledged to stay in the race for the long haul, standing tall for “all we believe in” and standing up “against all that divides us.”

As criteria for winning a spot on the debate stage ratchets up — along with the competition — it’s now an open question who remains standing alongside the former governor.
There has been a shake-up within the campaign organization of former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, which includes the departure of the manager of Hickenlooper's presidential campaign, Bradley Komar. Komar and other departing staffers reportedly believe that Hickenlooper should quit the race as he has no realistic prospect of victory.