Obama Eyes Ex-Clinton Aide for Top Economic Advisor

[Geee]

Reuters:

(Reuters) - A trusted aide with first-hand experience negotiating with Republicans has emerged as the favorite to become President Barack Obama's new top economic policy adviser, Democratic sources said on Monday.

Two sources close to the deliberations said Gene Sperling, a Clinton administration veteran, has gained traction in the last few weeks as a potential successor to Larry Summers, who is departing as director of the National Economic Council.

Sperling is now seen as having an edge over two other leading contenders, investment banker Roger Altman and Yale University President Richard Levin.

Sperling, 52, brings a unique characteristic to the table: he has actually done the job, a role that coordinates economic advice throughout the administration.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Bloomberg:

President Barack Obama is considering naming William Daley, a JPMorgan Chase & Co. executive and former U.S. Commerce secretary, to a high-level White House post, possibly as his chief of staff, people familiar with the matter said.

Such a move, which is still under discussion and which White House officials wouldn’t confirm, would bring a Washington veteran -- and someone with strong business ties -- into the administration as Obama enters the second half of his term. The president is faced with a Republican majority in the House of Representatives and is trying to accelerate the U.S. economic recovery while addressing the budget deficit.

Daley, 62, who typically responds to questions, didn’t return two messages seeking comment left on his cell phone yesterday or a phone call to his office and an e-mail sent to him today. White House officials declined to discuss the matter.

“I’m not going to comment on personnel speculation,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in an e-mail.

As he remakes his staff at the midway point of his presidency, Obama also is seeking to address complaints from some executives that the Democratic administration is anti- business. Daley is JPMorgan’s Midwest chairman and the bank’s head of corporate responsibility.
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It's the Chicago way...

[Geee]

Reuters:

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama is considering tapping J.P. Morgan Chase executive William Daley for a senior role within the White House, possibly chief of staff, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Daley is also a former commerce secretary. If he is chosen, the move would help satisfy a clamor within the business community to have greater representation in the administration.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cautioned that no decision had been made. Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, has been considering an array of staffing decisions during his break.