Obama is clearly still running the Democrat party.
As Vice President Kamala Harris gears up for her presidential bid, her campaign is seeing a significant infusion of experienced strategists, many of whom have deep ties to former President Barack Obama’s political machine. This shift comes as Harris inches closer to being officially recognized as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential race. Her campaign’s strategic approach will markedly differ from that of President Joe Biden’s, according to reports from Politico Playbook.
In a notable move, Harris is bringing on key figures from Obama’s inner circle, a group known for their instrumental roles in both of Obama’s successful campaigns and his administration while pushing Biden’s people out of her circle. This includes David Plouffe, the renowned strategist who was pivotal in Obama’s 2008 primary victory and subsequent general election successes. Plouffe, now serving as “senior advisor for path to 270 & strategy,” will focus on securing the 270 electoral votes needed for Harris to win the presidency. His role also involves reporting to Jen O’Malley Dillon, a former deputy White House chief of staff under Biden, who transitioned to Harris’s campaign in January.
Plouffe and Dillon have a history dating back to 2008, when Plouffe hired Dillon as the director for Obama’s battleground states campaign. David Axelrod, who was the chief strategist for Obama’s campaigns, describes Plouffe as a key advisor who will be instrumental in guiding the campaign’s strategy.
Plouffe has already begun making waves, issuing a statement in response to Donald Trump’s announcement of a September 4 Fox News debate. Plouffe criticized Trump for backing out of a previous debate and suggested that Trump only feels comfortable in controlled settings, like Fox News, rather than facing tough debates.
Additional appointments to Harris’s campaign include Mitch Stewart, who previously managed the Iowa caucuses for Obama and will now serve as “senior advisor for battleground states” under Dillon. Stephanie Cutter, who worked for both Obama and Michelle Obama, will be Harris’s “senior advisor for message and strategy.”
Harris is also bringing in some of her own trusted allies. Brian Nelson, who worked with her during her time as a senator and attorney general, will now be the senior adviser for policy on her campaign. David Binder, an Obama pollster with two decades of experience working with Harris, will handle polling responsibilities. Jim Margolis, who was a key consultant for Obama and worked on Harris’s 2020 campaign, will continue to offer his expertise in an undefined role.
Additionally, Jen Palmieri, the former White House Director of Communications, will now serve as a senior adviser for second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Several of Harris’s top campaign aides, including Sheila Nix, Brian Fallon, Sergio Gonzales, Megan Jones, Shelby Cole, and Jalisa Washington Price, are also set to take on expanded roles as the campaign progresses.
