Chrissie Thompson

cthompson@usatoday.com

Hyde Park native Chris Wyant, a veteran of President Barack Obama's campaigns, will direct Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's Ohio campaign, Clinton's campaign confirmed to The Enquirer Tuesday.

Although Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was projected to win Indiana's primary Tuesday, Clinton leads him by about 800 delegates and has started to shift into general election mode. That puts Ohio, the quintessential swing state, in focus.

Sanders wins Indiana but Clinton looks to November

Wyant, 33, directed the Ohio Democratic Party's efforts to support Obama's general election campaign in 2012 and served as deputy field director for Eastern Ohio for Obama in 2008. He most recently served as a managing director of Enroll America, an effort to sign people up for insurance offered through Obama's health care law.

Wyant's parents, Jack and Peg, are both venture capitalists and alumni of Procter & Gamble. Jack Wyant is one of the owners of the Cincinnati Reds and is the founding managing partner of Blue Chip Venture Company, which backs digital media and big data efforts. Peg Wyant serves as CEO of Grandin Properties, the family's real-estate firm, which redevelops and manages buildings in Over-the-Rhine.

Chris Wyant graduated from Seven Hills School and Yale University. Along with his campaign work, he served as chief of staff of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency during Obama's first term.

Clinton shifting staff to general election swing states

His wife, Lauren Kidwell, is a veteran of Obama's Senate and presidential campaigns and serves as deputy chief of staff at the Department of Commerce.

The Wyant family includes several athletes, especially in squash, and founded the Cincinnati Squash Academy. Chris Wyant was Most Valuable Player of the squash team at Yale.