White House Makeover: Top Strategist David Plouffe Out
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — President Obama will be giving his West Wing team an extreme make-over for the second term Friday afternoon, with the departure of top strategist David Plouffe and the naming of Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough as his next chief of staff.
Once again, the president is keeping a comfort zone around him, promoting from within. He is plucking a favorite aide from his national security team to become the new White House chief of Staff. McDonough has been a popular figure in the Obama inner circle since the Senate days. He is replacing Jack Lew, who has been nominated as Treasury secretary.
Plouffe’s departure from the tiny office next to the president’s makes room for strategist Dan Pfeiffer’s promotion to senior adviser. Pfeiffer is a combative planner who has been orchestrating the administration’s message for the last four years. His deputy, Jennifer Palmieri, a long-time Democratic figure, moves up to communications director.
Rob Nabors was a key figure in negotiating with Congress and he’s getting promoted to the top policy job in the West Wing’s chief of staff office.
From the Department of Justice, Lisa Monaco will come in as the new counter-terrorism adviser, taking John Brennan’s chair if he is confirmed as CIA Director.
The only other outsider coming into the West Wing is David Simas who worked on the re-election campaign. Simas will do communications.
There are no announced changes in Jay Carney’s press office.
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