The president is said to be working on a major reorganization of his administration, intent on bolstering his political team for the realities of certain divided government and his own reelection. Mr. Obama is looking at ways to empower the executive branch, and will seek the assistance of a variety of veterans from previous administrations as well as business leaders, to successfully guide the second half of his term.
The White House is said to be giving strong consideration to naming Bill Daley as the new White House Chief of Staff. Daley is the former Clinton administration Commerce Secretary, is the brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, and holds strong bipartisan ties with Republicans as well as the business community. Mr. Daley is an effective leader and is so well liked by Democrats and Republicans alike, most pundits believe a job offer to him from the president is imminent.
Another of the first expected changes will be the reshaping of his economic team. Mr. Obama begins the new year with the urgent priority of naming a new director of the National Economic Council, a post Lawrence Summers will be leaving in 2011. Gene Sperling, who held the same position in the Clinton administration, as well as Wall Street investment banker Roger Altman (another former Clinton administration official), are among the top names being considered.
“You’re not going to see wholesale changes, but there will be significant changes. I think that’s desirable,” said senior adviser David Axelrod, who will be leaving the White House next month. “This is a bubble. It’s been an intense couple of years, and there’s an advantage to bringing in folks who have a fresh set of senses — smell, touch and feel — about what’s going on out there.”
Perhaps the first personnel change inside the White House will be the addition of David Plouffe, Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign manager from 2008. Mr. Plouffe has been one of the president’s closest outside confidants, and will replace Mr. Axelrod as the chief political adviser.
Another interesting change will involve White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs is expected to work outside the White House as an unofficial adviser and PR point man, to help shape the Obama perception via television as Mr. Obama prepares for a reelection bid. Among leading contenders for the press secretary job are Jay Carney, who is a spokesman for Vice-President Biden, and Bill Burton, who is the current deputy press secretary.
President Obama reviewed restructuring plans during his holiday vacation in Hawaii, and the first announcements regarding personnel changes are expected sometime early this month.
