Top Perry Strategist Joins Fiorina Campaign

Rob Johnson, a top strategist for former Gov. Rick Perry, has joined Carly Fiorina's presidential campaign.

Johnson will serve as a senior adviser to Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard. 

“Carly has a blueprint to take back our country and address serious challenges facing our nation," Johnson said Wednesday. "She has the experience and qualifications to be president on day one."

Johnson worked as a senior strategist on Perry's second bid for the White House, which ended in September. Johnson previously managed Perry's similarly ill-fated 2012 campaign. 

Johnson will join another former Perry official, Lexi Swearingen, in Fiorina's orbit. Swearingen, who was a communications adviser to Perry, is serving in a similar role for a pro-Fiorina super PAC.

Johnson's hire gives Fiorina, who was born in Austin, another tie to Texas. The super PAC, CARLY for America, has assembled a Texas Leadership Team of more than two dozen prominent supporters in the state, led by former Comptroller Susan Combs.

National Review first reported the Fiorina campaign had hired Johnson.