O'Malley hires campaign manager with expertise in long-shots

Gov. Martin O'Malley has hired a campaign manager renown for delivering long-shot victories.

As Maryland's two-term governor continues to weigh a presidential bid, his political action committee hired Bill Hyers as senior adviser.

Most recently, Hyers executed New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's come-from-behind victory last year, leading the American Association of Political Consultants to dub him the 2014 Democratic campaign manager of the year.

Hyers' reputation for a pulling off upsets includes U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand's 2006 congressional bid and the 2007 win of Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter.

O'Malley spokeswoman Lis Smith confirmed the PAC, O' Say Can You See, has hired Hyers in an advisory, not full-time role.

"Bill has been informally advising the Governor's PAC for the last few months," Smith said. "Now that the midterm elections are over, he is stepping up his role as a senior adviser. With his vast national experience on every level of campaign, we are thrilled to have him on board.”

O'Malley has been laying the groundwork for a potential 2016 presidential bid during the final years of his second term, which ends Jan. 21. Through his PAC, the governor has deployed dozens of staffers to help with elections in early primary states and crisscrossed the country raising cash for candidates.

O'Malley, 51, enhanced his national profile through a two-year stint as chairman of the Democratic Governor's Association and has said he would consider running for president even if presumed front-runner and ally Hillary Rodham Clinton chose to run.

Any potential bid would face long odds. Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden consistently eclipse O'Malley in national polling of a hypothetical match up for the Democratic nomination. So does Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has repeated she has no plans to run.

O'Malley, who has purchased a home in Baltimore for after his term in the governor's mansion ends, has said that would probably decide whether to run for president early next year.

O'Malley hires campaign manager with expertise in long-shots

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!Save big on local news.

SALE ENDS SOON

$1 FOR 12 WEEKS

Don't miss our 4th of July sale!
Save big on local news.