Longtime Hill Flack Downey Heads to Tampa for Convention as Press Secretary

First reported by Politico’s Mike Allen, “Kyle Downey, a well-known Capitol Hill spokesman and strategist who has worked for Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), will be named Press Secretary of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa.”

Downey had been serving as Communications Director for the Senate Republican Conference, which Thune chaired.

“The Conference and the Policy Committee were each chaired by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), on whose staff Downey served as communications director since Thune’s election in 2004.”

“Prior to joining Sen. Thune’s staff, Downey was Communications Director for Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Press Secretary to the House Budget Committee under the chairmanship of Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA). He also served as Press Secretary to the House Republican Conference under the chairmanship of Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK).

“A Wisconsin native, Downey began his political career in Florida as a volunteer in the 2000 Bush-Gore ballot recount, later helping organize press events in the Tampa Bay area for former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s 2002 re-election campaign.”  (Politico)