Adam Putnam just ended a 10-day bus tour of the state to launch his bid to be the next Florida governor. And no sooner had the tour wrapped up that a major staff shake-up took place, which some believe is signaling a bigger schism in the GOP front-runner’s campaign.
Kristin Davison, Putnam’s campaign manager, was relieved of her duties Monday.
Amanda Bevis of the Putnam campaign confirmed the Davison departure: “We’re very grateful for her efforts to help this campaign get off to the strongest possible launch. We wish her the best.”
Political director Jared Small also exited the campaign.
Davison handled much of the logistical planning for Putnam’s launch and bus tour, which both were viewed as successful by grassroots types.
Davison seemed to some on the outside to be an awkward fit for the ‘Fresh from Florida’ operation, as the bulk of her professional experience was with national GOP impresario Karl Rove.
However, sources familiar with the selection process for campaign manager said there was a concerted effort to bring in people from outside the state. The feeling was those would be the “best minds.”
Those same sources assert that there is a turf war in the operation, between political operative types and the kind of people who are more comfortable in governmental offices than in the rough and tumble of retail politics.
Political watchers will be curious to see the Putnam campaign reboot, a very quick 2.0 given that the candidacy was only announced this month.
Davison’s Twitter handle was active on behalf of the campaign through Saturday but now projects radio silence.
