NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has fought to the cusp of the Republican presidential nomination with a small group of largely obscure operatives. They signed on a year ago for the seemingly quixotic campaign.

When Trump won Indiana recently and it became clear he was the likely nominee, they shared an embrace in the lobby of Trump Tower. The improbable had come to pass.

There’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who had no national campaign experience.

Spokeswoman Hope Hicks, a former model and public relations pro who worked for Trump’s daughter, Ivanka.

Iowa conservative Sam Clovis, who quit the campaign of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and raised eyebrows by going with Trump.

The campaign’s lead advance man, George Gigicos, says the team “took a lot of arrows” but has been vindicated.