Puckett's campaign manager resigns

By ED RONCO, Tribune Staff Writer

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Luke Puckett talks to his supporters after winning the Republican nomination to challenge Indiana 2nd District Congressman Joe Donnelly. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Sep 1, 2008 at 6:44 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 1, 2008 at 6:48 PM EST

Luke Puckett's campaign manager has resigned.

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Kyle Bailey, 23, stepped down Monday from the Republican congressional candidate's campaign. He had been working since Feb. 1 for Puckett, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger.

The Donnelly campaign declined to comment on Bailey's resignation.

Bailey said he resigned because of concerns about his health and the amount of time he is focusing on his family.

"I went to the doctor last week, and after hearing a description of my lifestyle, the hours, the eating habits, and the stress of it all, the doctor told me that I was working my way right up the political ladder to an early grave," Bailey wrote in an e-mail to The Tribune.

But the main reason had to do with family, he said. Bailey's sister is a volleyball player at Lynn University in Florida, and she called him Saturday after playing in her first collegiate game, which the team won.

"This was one of the biggest days of her entire life, I forgot about it, she called to tell me about it, and I wasn’t able to take her call because I was on a conference call," he wrote in his e-mail. "I felt less than an inch tall, it and it hit me like a ton of bricks. After I listened to her message, I knew I was going to resign."

Bailey's resignation makes him the second Puckett campaign staff member to step down suddenly. Treasurer Art Willis resigned Aug. 18 after errors in bookkeeping resulted in multiple overdraft charges to the campaign from Lake City Bank.

Bailey left of his own will and on great terms, Puckett said.

"I feel like I'm losing my right arm right now and losing my brother that I traveled all over the district with," Puckett said. "This is a tough one."

Until further notice, campaign Chairman Juan Manigault will also step into the manager's role, Puckett said.

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