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* Bill de Blasio’s campaign manager is now Pat Quinn’s chief strategist. Now you know exactly what type of hardcore populist campaign Quinn wants to run. From a press release…

Governor Pat Quinn today tapped Bill Hyers to serve as chief strategist for his 2014 re-election campaign. Hyers, an Illinois native, is one of the country’s leading campaign strategists, having managed Pennsylvania for President Obama’s campaign for re-election in 2012 and serving as Midwest Director for Obama in 2008.

“Bill Hyers knows how to compete and he will be a strong force for our campaign,” Governor Quinn said. “With his help and the help of people across Illinois, we’re going to run a strong grassroots campaign and continue to move Illinois forward.”

“I’m proud to go to work for one of the nation’s leading reform governors,” Hyers said. “I’ve long admired Governor Quinn’s leadership. After inheriting a huge mess from two corrupt governors in a row, he’s been turning the state around and getting big things done to improve life for working families. It is critical that we re-elect Governor Quinn in Illinois so he can finish what he started.”

Hyers, one of the most highly-sought after campaign leaders in the country, recently managed Bill de Blasio’s successful campaign for mayor of New York City. He also led Gov. Steve Beshear’s successful gubernatorial campaign in Kentucky, Mayor Michael Nutter’s successful campaign in Philadelphia and Kirsten Gillibrand’s first race for Congress in 2006. In addition, Hyers managed the president’s campaign in Pennsylvania in his 2012 bid for re-election and was Midwest Regional Director for his 2008 campaign.

An Illinois native, Hyers was born in Kewanee. He graduated from Harrisburg High School and attended graduate school at Illinois State University after completing his undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State in Minnesota.

* Lynn Sweet…

Gov. Pat Quinn hired the man who managed New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s come-from-behind, populist everyday people campaign to be the chief strategist of his re-election bid. Quinn told me he views his 2014 run as a “battle for the soul of Illinois.” […]

Quinn, who buys his suits at Men’s Wearhouse on State Street, told me his campaign will be steered by Bill Hyers, who won rave reviews for taking de Blasio’s longshot bid to victory in a big-city contest with intense media scrutiny — a nice practice run for Illinois.

Hyers “brings a good sense of modern campaigns,” Quinn told me. “We are going to be very aggressive with social media, and we’ll have a very strong regular media campaign and it fits in with our grass-roots efforts.” […]

Joe Slade White and Ben Nuckels are again making Quinn’s spots. Four years ago, they made ads savaging then-GOP nominee Bill Brady for being so wealthy that he was out of touch with average Illinoisans.

By comparison, Bruce Rauner hired his top guy almost eleven months ago.