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Robert Gibbs May be Leaving White House for DNC Chair and Obama 2012 Re-election Bid

1 year ago
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Alex Wagner
Alex Wagner
White House Correspondent
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On Saturday morning, Politico reported that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs may be leaving his post in advance of President Obama's 2012 re-election bid to become the Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine presently holds the position.

According to the story, unnamed "Democratic insiders are taking the temperature of some top party donors" regarding their feelings about such a move. Gibbs has long been among the president's closest advisers, having worked with Obama since 2004 -- some expected him to eventually leave his post in the White House press office to become a senior adviser in the West Wing. As the chief White House liaison to the press, Gibbs has had his fair share of scuffles with the media, most recently blasting members of the "professional left" as "liberal naysayers" -- comments he later called "inartful."

Moving Gibbs to the DNC, according to the anonymous Democratic insider, would "put the Obama imprimatur on the DNC, once and for all," and install a "great partisan fighter" for the president's re-election campaign.

Speculation about White House personnel changes is on the rise as the president reaches the halfway mark of his first term in office -- a traditional period of reorganization in any administration. Nonetheless, the Obama White House has seen a particularly active staff roster of late: on Friday, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel announced his departure in a high profile goodbye ceremony in the East room of the White House. Prior to Emanuel's departure, director of the president's National Economic Council Larry Summers announced he would leave by the end of this year, and Christina Rohmer vacated her post as Chair of the President's Council of Economic Advisers at the end of August. And Budget Director Peter Orzsag exited the White House this past July.
Filed Under: Barack Obama, Obama Administration, 2012 President, White House
Tagged: dailyguidance, Robert Gibbs
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18 Comments

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Breeze5208

These people can't get away from Obama fast enough. My bet is Joe Biden is entertaining ways to distance himself from Obama. Find me a Hillary supporter who wishes she would stay as SoS and not challenge Obama in 12.

October 03 2010 at 6:36 AM Report abuse +9 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Breeze5208's comment
catalogsplus

Actually it sure sounds like a growing majority of Americans see the entire lot gone in 2012. Obama, Biden, Hillary, the Dem Congress (which may happen next month), all.

October 03 2010 at 1:33 PM Report abuse +10 rate up rate down Reply
rotten rollin

America's gain, DNC's loss.

October 03 2010 at 12:54 AM Report abuse +9 rate up rate down Reply
catalogsplus

I have to admit it will be very interesting to see if he is as bumbling at running the DNC as he is as press secretary. Is this really the best the DNC can do?

October 02 2010 at 6:39 PM Report abuse +31 rate up rate down Reply
Rroose

Robin Gibbs' move to the DNC would be a great change for our country. Instead of Gibbs damaging the democrat run White House, he can torpedo the entire democrat party! Now that would help bring a change from the "Mourning in America" we are experiencing now to the "Morning in America" that the Regan revolution began. Keep it up Robbie!!!

October 02 2010 at 6:35 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
mytime41

Gibbs is the complete PROGRESSIVE

October 02 2010 at 5:44 PM Report abuse +36 rate up rate down Reply
msbarbicat

Robert Gibbs is the most ineffectual commentator I have ever listened to. He never says anything that makes sense. I think he would do better on "So you think you can dance" because he sure can dance around an issue!

October 02 2010 at 3:50 PM Report abuse +79 rate up rate down Reply
cdickison

More good news for Republicans.

October 02 2010 at 2:58 PM Report abuse +86 rate up rate down Reply
Eric

I agree with suksin on his comment. People are saying that Howard Dean was better as DNC chair than Tim Kaine. Governor Kaine (of my state) is doing a great job and he keeps his composure when it comes to critical and controversial issues. I would keep Governor Kaine instead of appointing Robert Gibbs as DNC Chair. Reason being is because of his inappropriate attacks on the "professional left" and suggesting that the Democrats could lose the House (which they WON'T!). What type of chairperson would suggest that his own party could lose?

October 02 2010 at 2:52 PM Report abuse -58 rate up rate down Reply
cgravenkem

Even with unemployment up to 20%, who would want his job??

October 02 2010 at 2:42 PM Report abuse +52 rate up rate down Reply
revivalman

The sooner he leaves the better. As Chairman of the DNC, Gibbs -- he will match up perfectly with the equally incompetent RNC Chairman, Michel Steele. With the two of them running the show, the Tea Party will certainly take over America.

October 02 2010 at 2:02 PM Report abuse +67 rate up rate down Reply

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