Politico: Robert Gibbs May Be The Next DNC Chair

by Frances Martel | 10:38 am, October 2nd, 2010

» 9 comments

It appears that Rahm Emanuel‘s White House exit may be one of the first in a series for the Obama administration. According to Politico, the Democratic Party is looking into leadership negotiations that could land current DNC chairman Tim Kaine in the White House and spokesman Robert Gibbs in the Party’s top post.

According to Mike Allen‘s Saturday morning report, talks have begun within the party to gauge interest in Gibbs as the DNC head for President Obama’s reelection run in 2012. “According to people who have been consulted,” major Democratic donors have reacted positively to the idea, as it would put an Obama campaign insider in full control of the party and expand the Obama administration’s influence outside the White House, along with the impending departure of senior adviser David Axelrod and this week’s departure of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Gibbs is expected to take his leave soon as well, perhaps for an advisory position within the White House.

According to one official within the Politico report, “it would ‘put the Obama imprimatur on the DNC, once and for all,’ and install a ‘great partisan fighter’ as the face of the national party for the reelection campaign. ‘It’s a brilliant idea if he ends up deciding he wants to do it,’ said one official who has been consulted.”

In exchange for leaving the post, current DNC Chairman Tim Kaine would potentially be offered a top post within the Obama administration, bringing him closer to the core of Democratic leadership in public office should the President be reelected, though Allen declined to speculate what type of post he would be likely to receive.

For now, of course, it’s still 2010 and this is all speculation. Compared to a firebrand like Michael Steele, Kaine has proven a bit mild-mannered for the job, and the party enthusiasm gap is clearly showing the difference. Giving Steele an actual antagonist, however, may backfire if their game of brinkmanship pushes Gibbs over the edge. And most importantly for the media: who would be Gibbs’ successor? No leads for now, which may be what the White House intended by releasing the news on the coattails of Emanuel’s departure and the near-simultaneous implosions of James O’Keefe and Rick Sanchez.

Democrats, DNC, Politico, Robert Gibbs, Tim Kaine, White House, White House Press Corps

Big Eddie

Gibbs . DNC chair ? Get a heavy duty one . …Natural replacement for Gibbs as press secretary – Alan Grayson .
Azarkhan

“Compared to a firebrand like Michael Steele, Kaine has proven a bit mild-mannered for the job, and the party enthusiasm gap is clearly showing the difference”

Now there is an ignorant statement. In fact, Michael Steele has been a disaster as RNC chair, and any gains the Republicans make in November will be made in spite of his terrible leadership. The enthusiam and intensity of Republican voters is entirely due to Pres Obama’s destructive, abysmal policies.
dwight

Perhaps a preemptive move in case Hillary decides to mount a primary campaign challenge?
playswithknives

Steven Colbert would make a good replacement for Gibbs. Whether or not you find him funny, imagine how he would mess with the heads of the WH press corps.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Antony-Dupuy/1194612935 Antony Dupuy

Michael Bloomberg for Treasury secretary…Robert Gibbs for DNC chair…

I’m going to be blunt: This is suicide

President Obama never had any real intention of serving a full term. He knew that when he passed the stimulus in March 2009.
SnowSoul

I am not a democrat, I can’t see myself being a democrat, ever, but I fully support them taking a guy who has never done a fundraiser, never been an executive of anything, taking over the as Chairman of the DNC. After all, if we can have a guy with the same qualifications running the White House, why can’t we have him running their party?
Arkansas Steve

On another matter: MEDIAITE, what the hell is wrong with you?
The best interview in a decade was last night as Greta Van Susteren demolished & humiliated Gloria Allred.
You have NO DECENT EXCUSE WHATSOEVER for not running this story.
Are you incompetent or in bed with Gloria?
Arkansas Steve

Why do the Democrats go out of their way to reward failure? Anybody know?
http://none pyrope

First off, I’m no fan of Michael Steele; he forfieted any trust I might have had in him when he was found to be living the high life on the RNC funds.

As for Gibbs, yes, I could support his chairmanship of the DNC as it would be suicidal for the Democrat Party to place him in such a position.

That said, I believe Mr. Gibbs is tired; I can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He has grown tired of uttering lie after lie after lie in defense of the indefensible. The man is burned out and I rather expect he will be gone before the year is out.

Ordinarily, I might say “good riddance,” but I want to see him hang around until he finally breaks in front of the press corps and reveals that he is sick and tired of lying for his salary.