Walker hires two conservative operatives

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has brought on two Republican operatives, as he mulls a presidential run in 2016.

The conservative governor hired strategists Gregg Keller and Gary Marx to advise his political committee, the Washington Examiner reported Thursday morning.

{mosads}Both men have extensive conservative credentials.

Keller and Marx were both on the staff of Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential run, managing outreach to conservative groups. They have also both served as the executive director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition — the conservative advocacy group founded by Ralph Reed.

Marx is also a veteran of both of President George W. Bush’s campaigns and the former head of the Judicial Crisis Network, which works to put conservative judges on the bench.

The hires are just the latest sign that Walker is preparing a presidential run. He has attracted significant media attention in recent weeks after he gave a speech at Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) Freedom Summit, which electrified the conservative base.

Though Walker has not formally announced a run, Marx tweeted that he would “see you all on the trail” when the news of his hiring broke.

Proud to be part of the @GovWalker team! See you all on the trail… http://t.co/bttfSgDbpE

— Gary A. Marx (@Garymarx) February 5, 2015

The committee, Our American Revival, also announced the hiring of a communications director and polling operatives earlier this week.

Walker has had a quick rise in Republican politics, fueled by his willingness to battle public-sector unions and take on other conservative causes. He repelled a recall in 2012 and was reelected in 2014.