“Rick was a key member of the editorial team that produced two of the most-watched debates of the Republican primaries,” wrote ABC News president Ben Sherwood in a memo to staff this morning. “And when Martha Raddatz was picked to moderate the Vice Presidential debate, Rick enthusiastically took on a leading part in debate prep as a very convincing Paul Ryan. In fact, in the mock debates, he captured virtually every rhetorical point and personal mannerism — except for gulping water.”

The Klein announcement follows the arrival of Susan Saulny and Jeff Zeleny from the New York Times earlier this week.

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Saulny has spent the last 12 years at The Times as a national reporter. She’s also contributed to the paper’s digital video efforts.

Says ABC News president Ben Sherwood: “A superb reporter and writer, Susan helped chronicle the race to the White House in 2012, breaking news and writing features, traveling across the country through Election Day.”

Saulny spent four years in the Times’ Chicago bureau covering politics, breaking news, and weather in the Midwest. The New Orleans native reported extensively on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath in 2005.

On Monday, ABC announced it had hired Jeff Zeleny to report on politics and Capitol Hill. In an interview Monday, Zeleny told TVNewser the Times’ move into video will make his jump to TV a bit easier: “The web has prepared me a lot for this new fast-paced tempo of reporting from morning to evening,” he says. “I think it’s just an interesting moment in our reflective businesses that we’re doing more TV at The Times and ABC is doing great reporting.”

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Earlier this month Jeff revealed that Karl Rove is starting a new group to focus on recruiting seasoned Republican candidates to run in the next round of Congressional races – a story that drove the news cycle for days. During the 2012 campaign he broke the news that President Obama would support a Democratic Super PAC, a reversal from his strongly held position in 2008.

Zeleny may not be the only Timeser to be heading to ABC News. Politico’s Dylan Byers also reports that Susan Saulny is also having discussions with ABC, though Times editor Jill Abramson notes that they are interested in keeping their talent in-house of they can.

ABC is trying to replenish its political lineup, which took a hit with the departure of Jake Tapper and Virginia Moseley in the last few months.

Sherwood’s note is after the jump.
continued…

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