FitzGerald’s top aides set to flee his campaign
8/19/2014COLUMBUS — A potentially massive exodus from Ed FitzGerald’s gubernatorial campaign is afoot, with several of the Democratic nominee’s top aides and Ohio political consultants set to transition away from a campaign seemingly under a siege of negativity.
Mr. FitzGerald’s campaign manager Nicholas Buis, communication chief Daniel McElhatton, and press secretary Lauren Hitt are likely to leave, and consultants Aaron Pickrell and Louis Capobianco are also going, numerous sources say.
Multiple sources say Ms. Hitt could stay, but it appears likely that Mr. Buis and Mr. McElhatton will either be gone or in reduced roles by week’s end.
Sources indicated that Mr. Buis, Mr. McElhatton, and Ms. Hitt were choosing to leave after weeks of being bombarded by questions relating to Mr. FitzGerald’s lack of a regular driver’s license over a 10-year period and his early-morning drive and stop two years ago with a woman who was not his wife. Those two issues, according to several insiders, exacerbated his problem of campaign cash, making it more than likely he could not pose a serious challenge to Republican Gov. John Kasich.