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Obama Beefing Up Florida Efforts, Padding Out Staff

Though Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the other day that Obama can win without Ohio and Florida, the campaign is moving aggressively this week to beef up its efforts in the Sunshine State.

The campaign tells us that Dem operative Steve Schale will manage the state's Florida campaign, while Ashley Walker, who ran the state during the primary, will be the Florida political director.

Obama advisers regard these two as among the very best the state has to offer. Obama aides say Shale has a great track record in winning House races in the state, meaning he has the sort of fine-grained local knowledge necessary to find extra votes in odd places -- the sort of thing that can make a big difference in a close race.

The personnel moves, combined with the fact that Obama will visit the state later this week, suggest that the Obama camp knows that Florida is going to be a grueling fight and that for all the talk of remaking the map, they will compete as aggressively as possible there -- starting now.

Meanwhile, as expected, the Obama campaign also announced today that longtime Clinton loyalist Patti Solis Doyle has joined the campaign as the head of the Veep-candidate-to-be's staff. The move is either a sign that Hillary's Veep prospects are good or that they're bad, depending on which pundit is doing the talking.

Late Update: A long list of Obama staff hires announced today after the jump.

Constituency Director: Brian Bond - formerly LGBT Outreach Director at the DNC

National Field Director: Jon Carson - formerly Obama for America Voter Contact Director

Senior Advisor to the Campaign and Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama: Stephanie Cutter

Industrial States Regional Director: Paul Diogardi - formerly Political Director for the Democratic Governor's Association.

Battleground States Director: Jen O'Malley Dillon - formerly Iowa State Director for John Edwards for President

Chief of Staff to the Vice Presidential Nominee: Patti Solis Doyle

Latino Vote Director: Temo Figueroa - formerly Obama for America National Field Director

First Americans Vote Director: Wizipan Garriott

Northeast Regtional Director: Eureka Gilkey - formerly Obama for America Deputy Political Director

50-State Voter Registration Director: Jason Green - formerly Obama for America political and field staff

Campaign Chief of Staff: Jim Messina - formerly Chief of Staff to Senator Max Baucus
LGBT Vote Director: Dave Noble - formerly of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

West Regional Director: Matt Rodriguez -formerly Obama for America New Hampshire State Director

Senior Advisor: Michael Strautmanis

African American Vote Director: Rick Wade


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