White House moves staffers to finalize makeover of press operation
Both Andrew Bates and Chris Meagher, who serve as deputy press secretaries, were in contention for the job. As the principal deputy press secretary, Dalton will likely conduct White House press briefings on occasion. As part of the changes, Kate Berner will also be promoted to principal deputy communications director. Berner, who worked on Biden’s campaign, has served as a deputy communications director in the White House since the start of the administration. Advertisement"Kate and Herbie are longtime pillars of the Biden-Harris communications operation through the campaign, the convention, the transition and now the Administration,” Kate Bedingfield, the White House communications director, said in a statement.
washingtonpost.comBiden's 1st month was about erasing the mark of 'former guy'
Four years ago, pens were just one more little drama in Donald Trump's White House. That the new guy can erase the legacy of the “former guy,” as Biden has called Trump. AdOne month into Trump's presidency, he had already lost his national security adviser and his choice for labor secretary to scandal. Pets roam the White House lawn again. Fires crackle in the White House fireplace.
White House aide suspended for threatening reporter
In this Feb. 9, 2021 photo, White House deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo listens as press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington. Ducklo has been suspended for a week without pay after he reportedly issued a sexist and profane threat to a journalist seeking to cover his relationship with another reporter. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON – White House deputy press secretary T.J. Ducklo has been suspended for a week without pay after he reportedly issued a sexist and profane threat to a journalist seeking to cover his relationship with another reporter. Psaki said in a statement earlier Friday that Ducklo had been suspended without pay with the approval of White House chief of staff Ron Klain. But the Biden White House sought to strike a more cordial and professional tone with the Washington press corps from the start, installing a cadre of seasoned Washington communicators led by Psaki.
Anita Dunn to join Biden administration temporarily
Veteran Democratic operative Anita Dunn is set to join Joe Biden's administration temporarily at the start, despite initially signaling she wouldn't join the new White House team. Dunn, who served as a senior adviser to the Biden presidential campaign, co-chaired the Biden-Harris transition and held senior roles in President Obama's administration and his presidential campaigns, will take on a similar role in the West Wing with a focus on implementing his opening agenda, a person familiar with the plans confirmed to CBS News. Dunn is set to work with incoming communications director Kate Bedingfield and incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Eventually, Dunn plans to return later this year to her public affairs and political consulting firm SKDKnickerbocker. Dunn's plans were first reported by Axios.
cbsnews.comBiden aims to expand map as Trump recovers from coronavirus
MIAMI – As President Donald Trump recovers from the coronavirus, Joe Biden is capitalizing on having the campaign trail largely to himself by hitting critical swing states and investing in longtime Republican bastions that he hopes might expand his path to victory. Even Biden’s former primary rival, Bernie Sanders, has resumed in-person campaigning for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak in March. “They are running a solid race focused on the swing states we need to win but now have excess resources to expand the map." “The Trump campaign continues to run their presidential campaign, and we are going to continue to run our presidential campaign," said Biden campaign senior strategist Anita Dunn. Biden shared a stage with the president for 90 minutes during last week’s first presidential primary debate.
Biden aims to expand map as Trump recovers from coronavirus
MIAMI – As President Donald Trump recovers from the coronavirus, Joe Biden is capitalizing on having the campaign trail largely to himself by hitting critical swing states and investing in longtime Republican bastions that he hopes might expand his path to victory. Even Biden’s former primary rival, Bernie Sanders, has resumed in-person campaigning for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak in March. “They are running a solid race focused on the swing states we need to win but now have excess resources to expand the map." “The Trump campaign continues to run their presidential campaign, and we are going to continue to run our presidential campaign," said Biden campaign senior strategist Anita Dunn. Biden shared a stage with the president for 90 minutes during last week’s first presidential primary debate.
Uncertainty dominates presidential campaign's final stretch
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)NEW YORK Within President Donald Trumps campaign, some privately feared the worst heading into the national conventions. Republicans largely ignored the pandemic while attacking Joe Biden as a senile lifetime politician controlled by his partys far-left wing and incapable of protecting suburban voters from mobs of protesters. America doesnt feel like one country with all the chaos and division, former Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg said in an interview. The hands of the clock are going backwards.Meanwhile, the candidates are unleashing dramatically different campaigns upon voters as they navigate the pandemic.
2020 Watch: Can Trump ignore reality as Election Day nears?
President Donald Trump speaks with state and local leaders about Hurricane Laura at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Orange, Texas. President Donald Trump is essentially asking voters to judge him based on pre-pandemic America. Still, both sides expect the election, which Biden has led for virtually the entire cycle, to tighten entering the nine-week sprint to Nov. 3. Reflecting concerns about potential Trump momentum, Biden plans to resume in-person campaigning in the coming days, albeit with smaller, socially distanced crowds. The hands of the clock are going backwards.___2020 Watch runs every Monday and provides a look at the week ahead in the 2020 election.
Who's who on the committee vetting Biden's possible VPs
Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., right, as they arrive at the House Democratic Issues Conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Who's setting the stage for Biden's decision:THE CO-CHAIRSLISA BLUNT ROCHESTER: The Delaware congresswoman connects the vetting team to Biden's home state. After leaving the Obama White House, Hogan served in executive positions for the National Football League and for Apple. She left the tech giant shortly after being named to Bidens search committee. Remus is married to Brett Holmgren, a special assistant and national security aide in the Obama White House.
Who's who's on the committee vetting Biden's possible VPs
Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., right, as they arrive at the House Democratic Issues Conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. After leaving the Obama White House, Hogan served in executive positions for the National Football League and for Apple. She left the tech giant shortly after being named to Bidens search committee. Extending the ties, Bauer is married to Anita Dunn, Bidens senior adviser who was one of Obamas White House communications directors. Remus is married to Brett Holmgren, a special assistant and national security aide in the Obama White House.
Trump replaces campaign manager amid sinking poll numbers
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)WASHINGTON President Donald Trump shook up his campaign staff amid sinking poll numbers less than four months before the election, replacing campaign manager Brad Parscale with veteran GOP operative Bill Stepien. I am pleased to announce that Bill Stepien has been promoted to the role of Trump Campaign Manager, Trump said Wednesday on Facebook. Chris Christie and serving as Trumps national field director in 2016. Parscales digital advertising firm was among the campaigns most significant vendors, and some in Trumps orbit have alleged that the former campaign manager was profiting off the presidents reelection. Schultz is now at the Democratic National Committee, helping lead the joint battleground strategy among the national party, the Biden campaign and state parties.
Joe Biden's inner circle: No longer a boys club
Biden's status as Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting means the party will choose another man for an office never held by a woman. I understand.”Kate Bedingfield, an adviser the same age as Biden's youngest daughter, was first to propose a direct-to-lens declaration. She joined forces with Anita Dunn, an alumna of President Barack Obama’s West Wing and relative newbie to Biden's orbit. Together with two of Biden's longest-serving confidants – Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon – they convinced the almost-candidate it was the right course. Dunn said Jill Biden and Valerie Biden Owens are now elevated as “principals in their own right” — veritable extensions of the candidate.
From handshakes to kissing babies, virus upends campaigning
Fist or elbow bumps take the place of handshakes, and kissing babies is out of the question. Both Biden and Sanders decided to cancel planned election-night rallies in Ohio at the advice of local health officials. It was hardly the big celebration Biden had hoped for on one of the biggest nights of his 2020 campaign. The Sanders campaign held a call with staff and advisers to go over new organizing protocols on Wednesday. Signs of heightened concern could be seen on the Biden campaign trail earlier this week.
Joe Biden shakes up campaign by elevating veteran Democratic strategist Anita Dunn
Former Vice President Joe Biden is shaking up his presidential campaign as he promotes longtime advisor and Democratic strategist Anita Dunn. The decision was announced in an email to Biden campaign staff, according to NBC News. Dunn, a partner at advertising juggernaut SKDKnickerbocker, has been a surrogate for Biden since the start of his run for president. Biden holds a slight edge in the Nevada polling average, while he holds a double-digit edge in the South Carolina average. Here's the text of the email that was sent to Biden staff, according to NBC News.
cnbc.comBiden campaign looks to regroup after "we took our lumps" in Iowa
On a call with reporters, a senior campaign official would not answer questions about Dunn's new role. "The person in charge of the campaign is Joe Biden," one senior Biden official said. Campaigning in New Hampshire earlier this week, Biden called his Iowa finish a "gut punch." A senior campaign official stressed that while "we took our lumps in Iowa," Democrats can expect to see a "very forceful" contrast between Biden and his top rivals. Asked again if the campaign is worried about running out of cash, a senior official said plainly "we are not running out of money."
cbsnews.comWomen of Democratic campaigns not tokens
The women running the top Democratic presidential campaigns tell CNN's Dana Bash how gender roles have changed at the highest levels of politics(CNN) - Anita Dunn remembers a time in politics when it was almost unheard-of for women to be running political campaigns. It is a show of force illustrating that the days of men running campaigns to elect other men are heading to the dustbin of history. These women aren't the only ones serving in top positions in Democratic presidential campaigns. "I also think more women in power, more women in Congress, more women, hopefully, in the White House will make that better. "So it's not just women only, it's women of color, it's young women, it's older women, it's men, it's LGBT community.
Biden campaign demands networks stop booking Rudy Giuliani
Joe Biden's presidential campaign officials have seemingly had enough of Rudy Giuliani. "Your obligation is to provide the American people with an informed, fact-based and responsible coverage and debate of critical issues," the Biden campaign wrote. "Giving Rudy Giuliani valuable time on your air to push these lies in the first place is a disservice to your audience and a disservice to journalism." They have their Dem media trying to destroy my reputation and silence me! pic.twitter.com/xQ2isIPzos Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) September 29, 2019He continued to tweet about the Biden campaign over the next few hours, claiming that "the Bidens have played the influence game for years."
cbsnews.com