Benton 's political career began in 2000 when he worked with the Republican National Committee . Benton has been involved with various political candidates and organizations , including the American Conservative Union , Americans for Tax Reform , the Liberty Coalition , the Performance Institute , and Louisiana Senator David Vitter . Benton opened his own political firm , CIC solutions , working mostly in Pennsylvania and Virginia . In 2007 , Benton became involved with Ron Paul 's 2008 presidential candidacy . Benton started out as a volunteer , being attracted by Paul 's message on spending , civil liberties , and foreign policy , but eventually became Paul 's communications director . After the end of Ron Paul 's 2008 campaign , Benton joined the Campaign for Liberty , a political organization founded by Ron Paul to advocate for his political message . In 2010 , Benton served as Rand Paul 's campaign manager when Paul was elected Senator of Kentucky . Benton simultaneously served as Ron Paul 's political director . Rand Paul had never run for office before , and was seen as an underdog . Benton and Rand Paul became close , with the two speaking nearly every day and Benton moving into Paul 's basement . Rand Paul 's ultimately victorious campaign was praised for its use of the internet fundraising and recruiting , and Paul 's ability to knock off a more established candidate was described by a Republican strategist as establishing a new norm for Republican primaries . After Rand Paul 's election , Benton worked on Ron Paul 's 2012 presidential campaign . During the campaign , Benton urged Paul 's delegates at the 2012 Republican National Convention to act with " decorum and respect . " Benton has been criticized by some Ron Paul supporters who see Benton as being overly concerned with his own career , incompetent , and not truly a " hardcore Paulite . " Thomas Woods , an historian , political analyst , and former Ron Paul adviser , criticized Benton for what he saw as downplaying Ron Paul 's libertarian ideals in order to earn " GOP respectability , " a notion echoed by other Paul supporters
2012 Republican National Convention
2012 Republican National Convention
Jesse Benton