WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain Monday tapped a top aide to South Carolina's attorney general to manage his potential presidential campaign in the key Southern primary state.

Trey Walker, currently the chief executive assistant to Attorney General Henry McMaster, will head the Arizona Republican's campaign efforts in the Palmetto State should he decide to run.

Walker, 39, has significant experience in South Carolina politics. He served as lead consultant to McMaster's campaign in 2002 and has consulted a variety of South Carolina politicians including Sen. Lindsey Graham. After serving as the executive director to the South Carolina GOP from 1993-1999 Walker was the national field director for McCain's 2000 presidential bid.

"Trey is a valuable member of our political family," McCain said in a statement. "I am grateful that he will lend his considerable talent and experience to the management of our efforts in South Carolina, which is an extraordinarily important state in the presidential selection process."

McCain is hoping for a better result in the South Carolina GOP primary eight years after palmetto-state voters handed him a defeat and provided then-Texas Gov. George Bush the necessary momentum to capture the GOP nomination.