Bloomberg adds 3 key hires in delegate-rich California

Michael Bloomberg is adding three experienced California Democrats to his presidential campaign in the state that awards the most primary delegates, including the former head of Sen. Kamala Harris’ state campaign operation.

Courtni Pugh, who led Harris’ strategy in the senator’s home state, is joining Bloomberg’s team as a senior adviser focused on paid media targeting constituency groups such as Latino and black voters, the campaign announced Friday.

Bloomberg also has hired Crystal Strait, the former head of the state’s Planned Parenthood chapter, as political director, and Alex Gallardo Rooker, a vice chair of the state Democratic party, as a senior adviser. Strait, who also has worked for the state party and former California Sen. Barbara Boxer, said she’s joining the campaign because she believes Bloomberg is the party’s best chance of beating President Donald Trump.

“Winning is the only thing that we need to be focused on right now,” she said.

https://apnews.com/f29d38b451889b7df31eadebf1eca6fa