Mike Huckabee names S.C. campaign chief

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is expected to formally announce his 2016 Republican presidential bid on Tuesday, has named Hope Walker as his South Carolina state campaign director.

Walker has worked for the S.C. Republican Party over the past four years, most recently as state director. She graduated from Newberry College in 2011 where she was student body president.

After his announcement this week, Huckabee will come to Greenville on Friday to speak at a Upstate Chamber Coalition lunch.

Huckabee has made a strong showing in the Palmetto State.

He came within 3 percentage points of defeating Arizona Sen. John McCain in the 2008 S.C. GOP presidential primary.

Huckabee has finished fourth on average in recent 2016 S.C. Republican presidential polls behind former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, according to Real Clear Politics.

This story was originally published May 4, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Mike Huckabee names S.C. campaign chief."