David Plouffe, a leading adviser to former President Barack Obama, has been approached by allies of Vice President Kamala Harris to join a hybrid team of consultants at the top of her organizational chart, according to two people familiar with the outreach.
Plouffe’s admirers are encouraging him to accept a position in the Harris campaign, believing she needs more proven hands who offer a voice from outside both the Biden and Harris orbits. The addition of Plouffe to Harris’ team would immediately inject A-list talent in the most senior ranks of the operation as they work to reintroduce Harris and ensure she’s on solid footing ahead of her biggest first decision: whom to select as her vice presidential nominee.
Plouffe would also provide a conduit to top donors and leaders across Silicon Valley, said a third person who wants him to join Harris, where he’s worked on policy and strategy for the likes of Uber after exiting his role with Obama.
Harris and her intermediaries are moving swiftly to assure much of Biden’s campaign staff that they’ll be on board for the duration. She’s traveling to Wilmington, Delaware, headquarters Monday to help fire up aides, including those still dealing with the emotional toll of Biden abruptly exiting the race.
Plouffe would join a yet-to-be-assembled team of Biden holdovers and Harris loyalists inside and outside the campaign. Harris is close with Biden’s campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez, who spent a considerable amount of time on the road with Harris.
Harris also has been relying on her brother-in-law Tony West, who has been on calls as well as traveling with her in recent days. West is the chief legal officer at Uber.
First gentleman Doug Emhoff has been taking calls from donors and supporters.
Others who provide consistent counsel to the vice president include veteran Democratic strategists Minyon Moore and Donna Brazile, though both have other formal responsibilities, and it’s unclear whether they would join the ranks of Harris’ campaign staff. Harris has leaned on a team of a few past alums as she focused on debate preparation, though it’s now unclear if Donald Trump will agree to a debate.
Plouffe managed Obama’s 2008 White House run and went on to serve as a senior adviser in the White House. He’s worked with many of the advisers now helming Biden’s campaign, who joined Obama world in the general election as battleground states director. Plouffe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Comments
Post a Comment