South Carolina operative Joel Sawyer has emerged from the rubble of the Jon Huntsman campaign to join Donehue Direct. He’ll serve as senior vice president, the new media firm announced Monday.
Donehue Direct, which is headed by veteran strategist Wesley Donehue, helped Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) raise some $2 million online in just two weeks after he shouted, “you lie” at President Obama during an address to Congress. C&E named Donehue a campaign innovator in 2011.
“Donehue Direct has already established a brand as being the premier internet, social media, and political consulting firm in South Carolina,” Donehue said in a statement. “Joel is going to help take this company to the next level in terms of growing our brand and expanding our presence across the region.”
Prior to serving as Huntsman’s state director in South Carolina, Sawyer was the executive director of the state GOP. He also served as former Gov. Mark Sanford’s spokesman during the Republican’s “Appalachian Trail” scandal.
Sawyer called the new position an “incredible opportunity.”
“Wes and his team are literally creating the roadmap for the convergence of new media and traditional political consulting – and this partnership is going to take it to new heights,” he said.
The firm now has two offices in South Carolina and one in San Francisco.