Related News
Obama eyes ex-Clinton aide as top economic adviser
Source: Agencies |
January 4, 2011, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
A trusted aide with first-hand experience negotiating with Republicans has emerged as the favorite to become President Barack Obama's new top economic policy adviser, Democratic sources said yesterday.
Several sources close to the deliberations said Gene Sperling, a Clinton administration veteran, has gained traction in the last few weeks as a potential successor to Larry Summers, who is departing as director of the National Economic Council.
Sperling is seen as having an edge over two other leading contenders, investment banker Roger Altman and Yale University President Richard Levin.
A source familiar with the matter also said Obama is considering tapping J.P. Morgan Chase executive William Daley for a senior role within the White House, possibly as chief of staff.
Sperling, 52, brings a unique characteristic to the table: he has actually done the NEC job, a role that coordinates economic advice throughout the administration.
Sperling, who serves as counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, has a reputation as a savvy political and economic expert and is known for his tireless work ethic.
"The president is considering a number of qualified candidates and he has not made a decision or offered a job," White House deputy communications director Jen Psaki said.
"The most important qualification is finding the right person for the job, who can lead the team at this pivotal time in recovery."
Psaki declined to say whether Sperling had emerged as the leading candidate.
Some liberal Democrats see Sperling as too close to Wall Street because of work he has done as a consultant and because he was at the NEC during a period of financial deregulation under former President Bill Clinton.
Sperling helped put together the US$858 billion tax-cut deal hammered out late last year and has helped focus attention on small-business issues within the administration.
Some in the White House were initially hesitant about tapping an administration insider for the NEC job.
After crushing losses by Obama's Democrats in the November congressional elections, the White House was intrigued by the idea of filling the role with a business executive, a move that would signal a fresh policy course.
Sperling's candidacy gained momentum after Obama scored a series of legislative wins in December on the tax cuts and other measures. Those victories removed some pressure to recruit an outside figure for the NEC job.
Critics have accused the administration of being too insular. If Daley ends up moving into a White House job, that would ease some of that criticism.
"What the White House has got to look at is: Who is going to have the best economic plan?" said Julian Zelizer, a history professor at Princeton University.
"Two years from now, they're going to want the person who brought the jobs back and I think that's what makes Sperling attractive. He's very well-respected and his economic advice is well thought out," Zelizer said.
Several sources close to the deliberations said Gene Sperling, a Clinton administration veteran, has gained traction in the last few weeks as a potential successor to Larry Summers, who is departing as director of the National Economic Council.
Sperling is seen as having an edge over two other leading contenders, investment banker Roger Altman and Yale University President Richard Levin.
A source familiar with the matter also said Obama is considering tapping J.P. Morgan Chase executive William Daley for a senior role within the White House, possibly as chief of staff.
Sperling, 52, brings a unique characteristic to the table: he has actually done the NEC job, a role that coordinates economic advice throughout the administration.
Sperling, who serves as counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, has a reputation as a savvy political and economic expert and is known for his tireless work ethic.
"The president is considering a number of qualified candidates and he has not made a decision or offered a job," White House deputy communications director Jen Psaki said.
"The most important qualification is finding the right person for the job, who can lead the team at this pivotal time in recovery."
Psaki declined to say whether Sperling had emerged as the leading candidate.
Some liberal Democrats see Sperling as too close to Wall Street because of work he has done as a consultant and because he was at the NEC during a period of financial deregulation under former President Bill Clinton.
Sperling helped put together the US$858 billion tax-cut deal hammered out late last year and has helped focus attention on small-business issues within the administration.
Some in the White House were initially hesitant about tapping an administration insider for the NEC job.
After crushing losses by Obama's Democrats in the November congressional elections, the White House was intrigued by the idea of filling the role with a business executive, a move that would signal a fresh policy course.
Sperling's candidacy gained momentum after Obama scored a series of legislative wins in December on the tax cuts and other measures. Those victories removed some pressure to recruit an outside figure for the NEC job.
Critics have accused the administration of being too insular. If Daley ends up moving into a White House job, that would ease some of that criticism.
"What the White House has got to look at is: Who is going to have the best economic plan?" said Julian Zelizer, a history professor at Princeton University.
"Two years from now, they're going to want the person who brought the jobs back and I think that's what makes Sperling attractive. He's very well-respected and his economic advice is well thought out," Zelizer said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
