WASHINGTON – Overhauling his team at the top, President Obama on Thursday named banker and seasoned political fighter William Daley of Chicago as his new chief of staff, hoping to rejuvenate both a White House storming into re-election mode and an economy still gasping for help.
The choice of Daley immediately brought howls of protest from the left flank of the Democratic Party, where advocates questioned his insider ties to Wall Street. Centrists and business leaders rallied around the move.
Obama, whose hopes for a second term will be shaped largely by how the economy does, immediately linked Daley’s appointment to that task. For the most influential staff job in American politics, Obama chose a former Cabinet secretary who has run both companies and campaigns.
“I’m convinced that he’ll help us in our mission of growing our economy,” Obama said in a White House ceremony as Daley stood to one side. Pete Rouse, the interim chief of staff, did not want to stay in the job.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.