Obama is calling the shots once again.
Former President Barack Obama is reportedly exerting significant influence over Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, according to a recent statement by ex-Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Speaking on 770 WABC’s “The Cats Roundtable,” McCarthy alleged that Obama’s top aides, including David Plouffe and others, are now steering Harris’ bid for the presidency.
McCarthy suggested that the shift from the Obama administration to Harris’ campaign is a strategic move by the former president. Notably, Obama’s former Attorney General, Eric Holder, played a crucial role in vetting potential vice presidential candidates for Harris. Additionally, Harris has enlisted Plouffe, who managed Obama’s 2008 campaign and served as a senior advisor in the White House, as a senior aide for her campaign. Plouffe’s expertise extends beyond politics, having advised companies like TikTok and Uber.
Harris has also brought on board Stephanie Cutter, who was a deputy campaign manager for Obama’s 2012 re-election, as a senior advisor for strategy and messaging. The campaign is further reinforced by the firm of Jim Margolis, another key Obama campaign figure, who previously worked on Harris’ 2020 campaign. Jennifer Palmieri, a veteran Democratic advisor and former director of communications for both Obama and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, is also advising Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff.
Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, who served as campaign chairwoman for Harris, had previously worked on Obama’s and Joe Biden’s 2020 campaigns. Despite these connections, a former top adviser to Obama dismissed the notion that the former president is directly running Harris’ campaign. The adviser emphasized that it is common for seasoned Democratic strategists to support successive candidates.
During his interview, McCarthy criticized Harris’ choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, labeling the ticket as the most liberal in American political history. He expressed disappointment over Harris’ decision to overlook Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Jewish politician, given the critical importance of Pennsylvania and Georgia in the upcoming election.
McCarthy also attacked Harris for her role in casting the deciding vote on President Biden’s pandemic-related stimulus bills, attributing current inflation and economic hardship to those decisions. He argued that many families are struggling due to the economic consequences of these policies, highlighting a broader concern about the impact of Harris’ vice-presidential actions on the country’s well-being.
