State Sen. Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point) was named Tuesday an honorary co-chair of U.S. Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign.

“I am honored to serve on Senator John McCain’s campaign,” said Atkinson.  “He is poured in the mold of a true American and has the experience and courage to lead our nation to prosperity.”

According to McCain campaign spokesman Rick Gorka, the honorary co-chair is appointed by the campaign as someone who can be a familiar face and representative of the campaign, but also someone that can weigh in with ideas for political strategy and getting out the vote.

“He will kind of be the main policy advisor there,” Gorka said. “He helps us to access volunteer networks across the state.”

Atkinson, who represents the 2nd district in southern Oregon and ran for Governor in 2006, will bring his experience of running a state-wide campaigns to the co-chair position.  He finished third in the 2006 Republican primary and returned to the Senate. He has been identified as a possible Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2010.