Jim Murphy, a longtime Republican operative, has played a key role in setting up field programs in battleground states. | Getty
Trump national political director 'steps back' from campaign
Jim Murphy, Donald Trump’s national political director, is no longer playing an active role on the campaign, according to three sources briefed on the move.
"I have not resigned but for personal reasons have had to take a step back from the campaign," Murphy said in a statement to POLITICO.
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Since joining the Trump campaign in June, Murphy, a longtime party operative, has played a key role in setting up field programs in battleground states.
But the move comes at an inopportune time for the campaign, with little over two weeks remaining until Election Day. There are widespread concerns in Republican circles that Trump’s swing state infrastructure lags far behind Hillary Clinton’s – something that could have implications for the party up and down the ballot.
Murphy is a close ally of Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, having worked together on Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign. Manafort resigned from the campaign in August.



