By Caren Bohan
WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, bracing for battles with Republicans over the budget and other issues, is weighing several staff changes, including the hiring of a new top economic adviser and the possible selection of a new chief of staff.
Gene Sperling, a trusted Obama aide with first-hand experience with budget and economic clashes in the Clinton White House in the 1990s, is the front-runner to succeed Larry Summers as head of the National Economic Council.
Obama is also considering tapping J.P. Morgan Chase executive William Daley as White House chief of staff.
Another high-profile change would likely be press secretary Robert Gibbs. He could stay on in a behind-the-scenes role or, as the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing Democratic sources, possibly leave in coming weeks, setting up his own consulting shop and playing a leading role in the 2012 campaign.
Here is a list of changes under review:
TOP WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER
One of Obama's first orders of business in 2011 is to pick a new director of the NEC, which coordinates economic policy throughout the administration.
The post became vacant when Larry Summers resigned to return to his teaching job at Harvard University.
Sperling, a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, has gained traction recently and is seen as having an edge over two other candidates, investment banker Roger Altman and Yale University President Richard Levin.
Sperling brings a unique characteristic to the table: he did the NEC job in the Clinton administration, navigating battles with opposition Republicans over the budget and other economic issues.
WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF
When Obama's hard-charging chief of staff Rahm Emanuel left the administration in October to run for Chicago mayor, Obama named longtime adviser Pete Rouse as interim chief of staff.
J.P. Morgan Chase executive William Daley is under consideration to fill the role on a permanent basis, according to sources, although it's also possible Rouse could stay on.
If Daley were chosen, the move would help satisfy a clamor in the business community to have greater representation for private industry within the administration.
Daley served as commerce secretary during the Clinton administration and is steeped in Democratic politics. He was chairman of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Robert Gates has signaled his intention to resign sometime in 2011. Analysts said he probably will not step down until late spring or even the middle of the year, leaving plenty of time to confirm a successor ahead of the 2012 presidential election year.
Contenders include Democratic Senator Jack Reed, an Army veteran whose counsel Obama has sought out on issues like Afghanistan, and Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator. Another possible contender is Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, who would become the first female defense chief.
WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
The White House political and communications team will see a reshuffling. Senior Obama adviser David Axelrod, who has a broad portfolio as the president's main message man, is leaving the administration within the next several weeks and will begin working on Obama's re-election campaign in a few months.
David Plouffe, Obama's 2008 campaign manager, is expected to take up a post at the White House soon, likely assuming Axelrod's duties.
Gibbs, who has been one of the administration's public faces, also appears ready to leave the podium soon, though there is no sign of a final decision yet. Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton and Jay Carney, top communications adviser for Vice President Joe Biden, could replace Gibbs.
SENIOR AIDES WHO HAVE ALREADY HAVE LEFT
Summers' departure was the latest change on an economic team that has seen wholesale turnover. Austan Goolsbee, a longtime adviser to Obama, replaced Christina Romer as head of the Council of Economic Advisers in September. Jack Lew was recently confirmed by the Senate as budget director, replacing Peter Orszag, who left in July.
(Editing by Eric Beech) Keywords: OBAMA/STAFF (caren.bohan@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8300; Reuters Messaging: caren.bohan.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, bracing for battles with Republicans over the budget and other issues, is weighing several staff changes, including the hiring of a new top economic adviser and the possible selection of a new chief of staff.
Gene Sperling, a trusted Obama aide with first-hand experience with budget and economic clashes in the Clinton White House in the 1990s, is the front-runner to succeed Larry Summers as head of the National Economic Council.
Obama is also considering tapping J.P. Morgan Chase executive William Daley as White House chief of staff.
Another high-profile change would likely be press secretary Robert Gibbs. He could stay on in a behind-the-scenes role or, as the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing Democratic sources, possibly leave in coming weeks, setting up his own consulting shop and playing a leading role in the 2012 campaign.
Here is a list of changes under review:
TOP WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER
One of Obama's first orders of business in 2011 is to pick a new director of the NEC, which coordinates economic policy throughout the administration.
The post became vacant when Larry Summers resigned to return to his teaching job at Harvard University.
Sperling, a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, has gained traction recently and is seen as having an edge over two other candidates, investment banker Roger Altman and Yale University President Richard Levin.
Sperling brings a unique characteristic to the table: he did the NEC job in the Clinton administration, navigating battles with opposition Republicans over the budget and other economic issues.
WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF
When Obama's hard-charging chief of staff Rahm Emanuel left the administration in October to run for Chicago mayor, Obama named longtime adviser Pete Rouse as interim chief of staff.
J.P. Morgan Chase executive William Daley is under consideration to fill the role on a permanent basis, according to sources, although it's also possible Rouse could stay on.
If Daley were chosen, the move would help satisfy a clamor in the business community to have greater representation for private industry within the administration.
Daley served as commerce secretary during the Clinton administration and is steeped in Democratic politics. He was chairman of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.
DEFENSE SECRETARY
Robert Gates has signaled his intention to resign sometime in 2011. Analysts said he probably will not step down until late spring or even the middle of the year, leaving plenty of time to confirm a successor ahead of the 2012 presidential election year.
Contenders include Democratic Senator Jack Reed, an Army veteran whose counsel Obama has sought out on issues like Afghanistan, and Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator. Another possible contender is Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, who would become the first female defense chief.
WHITE HOUSE POLITICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
The White House political and communications team will see a reshuffling. Senior Obama adviser David Axelrod, who has a broad portfolio as the president's main message man, is leaving the administration within the next several weeks and will begin working on Obama's re-election campaign in a few months.
David Plouffe, Obama's 2008 campaign manager, is expected to take up a post at the White House soon, likely assuming Axelrod's duties.
Gibbs, who has been one of the administration's public faces, also appears ready to leave the podium soon, though there is no sign of a final decision yet. Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton and Jay Carney, top communications adviser for Vice President Joe Biden, could replace Gibbs.
SENIOR AIDES WHO HAVE ALREADY HAVE LEFT
Summers' departure was the latest change on an economic team that has seen wholesale turnover. Austan Goolsbee, a longtime adviser to Obama, replaced Christina Romer as head of the Council of Economic Advisers in September. Jack Lew was recently confirmed by the Senate as budget director, replacing Peter Orszag, who left in July.
(Editing by Eric Beech) Keywords: OBAMA/STAFF (caren.bohan@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202 898 8300; Reuters Messaging: caren.bohan.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.