Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) visits Detroit

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaks at the Detroit Economic Club Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

((Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com))

John Yob

LANSING, MI — Michigan Republican strategist John Yob has been tapped for a new post by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who is laying the groundwork for a potential presidential run in 2016.

Paul has hired Yob to serve as national political director and chief Michigan strategist for his RANDPAC political action committee.

“John Yob is one of the brightest political operatives in Michigan and across the nation,” Paul said in a release announcing the hire. “His experience and expertise will help me make many vital decisions.”

Yob, who heads up Strategic National Consulting in Grand Rapids, has played a key role in several major political campaigns both in and outside of Michigan.

He worked for Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Rick Santorum in 2008 and 2012. He helped Gov. Rick Snyder come out of nowhere to win election in 2010.

Yob said in an email that he is currently working this cycle as a senior adviser to U.S. Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land, Snyder, Lt. Gov. Brian Calley and Attorney General Bill Schuette.

RANDPAC is backing Land and several other U.S. Senate candidates this fall but is eventually expected to "evolve into a vehicle" for Paul's presidential campaign, according to the Wall Street Journal, which noted that Yob is the third state-level hire in the last month.

“The Republican Party is going to need to learn how to reach out to non-traditional Republican groups in order to win a national election again given the changing demographics in a post-Obama era,” Yob said in a statement.

“Senator Paul has the ability to inspire a new generation of conservatives, libertarians, and disaffected Democrats in states across the country. I am proud to join the team and look forward to building the strongest political operation in America.”

Paul spoke at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Michigan last fall and won a presidential preference straw poll over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and other potential 2016 candidates.

He also visited Detroit in December, outlining a plan to reduce taxes in economically distressed areas.

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.