The political director for Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 presidential campaign in New Hampshire has switched to former President Donald Trump’s front-running White House bid, the Ramaswamy camp confirmed Wednesday.
The move by Brian Swensen is “positive for everyone,” spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told The Post, adding that there is “no bad blood” and announcing that veteran political consultant Mike Buindo would be “absorbing” Swensen’s role.
While with the 77-year-old’s campaign, Swensen will be working closely with senior adviser Susie Wiles, according to the Messenger, which first reported on the move.
Swensen was moved out to New Hampshire five months ago to oversee Ramaswamy’s campaign in the key primary state, after previously serving as national political director.
Ramaswamy has struggled to keep his early momentum in the GOP primary race and is averaging just 4.8% support nationally, according to RealClearPolitics.
The 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur has focused on Iowa and New Hampshire in his latest efforts to gain polling traction, and has not indicated that he has any plans of dropping out.
Ramaswamy is garnering 5% support in Iowa and 7% backing in New Hampshire on average, according to RealClearPolitics data.
Brian Swensen departed Ramaswamy’s team and will be working for Trump. LinkedIn
Mike Biundo will be absorbing Swensen’s responsibilities
on Ramaswamy’s team. LinkedInThe candidate is believed to have qualified for next week’s Republican debate in Alabama, and has advocated for the fifth GOP debate in January to be hosted on X.
Ramaswamy’s policies are most closely aligned with those of Trump, when compared to the rest of the Republican primary field. Both tend to support isolationist foreign policy, and Ramaswamy was one of the candidates on stage at the first GOP debate in Milwaukee to say he would support Trump if he were convicted in any of four upcoming criminal trials.
Trump, who is polling around 40 points above his closest competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has also expressed support for Ramaswamy, even floating him as a potential vice presidential pick.
Ramaswamy has been consistently polling below 10%, but is homing in on Iowa and New Hampshire. AP
Trump leads the GOP primary field with an over 40-point edge. AP“He’s a very, very, very intelligent person. He’s got good energy, and he could be some form of something,” Trump said in August of Ramaswamy’s vice presidential chances while speaking to conservative talk show host Glenn Beck. “I tell you, I think he’d be very good.”
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
