Last Thursday, four Clinton veterans gathered in Washington, D.C., and gave their voice to the Hillary 2016 movement, another one of the innumerable tea leaves that those with close ties to Clintonland — who therefore presumably have some idea about what the presumptive candidate herself is thinking — are jumping onboard.
At this point, one would be stretched to find evidence that the Clinton gang isn’t getting back together for a 2016 White House run.
Ann Lewis, White House communications director during the Clinton administration; Ellen Tauchser, who served at the State Department with Hillary; Binata Niambi Brown, who informally advised the 2008 campaign; and Laurie Rubiner, legislative director during Clinton’s Senate tenure, spoke Thursday in D.C. at an event for Women Ready for Hillary. It’s one of the several constituency-targeted efforts undertaken by Ready for Hillary, the super PAC that, along with Priorities USA and American Bridge, is laying the foundation for Clinton 2016.
They’re far from the first, though. Here is a (likely incomplete) list of key Clintonites who have, in one way or another, signed onto their next shot at the White House.
Craig Smith
Then: White House political director; Now: Senior adviser to Ready for Hillary
The first big, public get for the Hillary 2016 movement when he signed onto Ready for Hillary last spring. He authored the text of a new Ready for Hillary direct-mail fundraising push that launched last week.
Harold Ickes
Then: White House deputy chief of staff; Now: Senior adviser to Ready for Hillary
“One of the purposes is to show what we think is the very broad and deep support for her,” Ickes told the New York Times. “And if she decides to run, then within the confines of the law, these names and e-mail addresses would be given to the campaign.”
He is reportedly one of the Clinton confidants directly encouraging Hillary to run.
Jonathan Mantz
Then: Clinton 2008 finance director; Now: Senior adviser to Priorities USA
In what is not likely a coincidence, he joined Priorities USA, the liberal super PAC that backed Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, at the same time that the group announced its plan to support a Clinton 2016 run.
Tracy Sefl
Then: Clinton 2008 media adviser; Now: Senior adviser to Ready for Hillary
“Any time the word inevitably comes up, it seems to me the most obvious response that I or anyone who supports a potential Hillary Clinton candidacy can say is that if she was inevitable, none of this would be happening,” Sefl said last month on CNN. “There would be no super PAC’s. There would be no organizing. There would not be websites and house parties and events, what-have-you, if there was an inevitability about this. It is precisely a lack of inevitably that is fueling these efforts.”
Susie Thompkins Buell
Then: Long-time Clinton fundraiser; Now: American Bridge’s “Correct The Record”
Buell, described by Mother Jones as “one of Hillary’s closest friends,” has donated money to Ready for Hillary. She also joined American Bridge, another Democratic super PAC that is preparing for a potential Clinton campaign, as a leader of its “Correct The Record” project, a rapid response unit to conservative attacks on Clinton.
Joe Lockhart
Then: White House press secretary; Now: Fundraiser for Ready for Hillary
He spoke at a private December fundraiser for Ready for Hillary and could continue to provide that sort of informal assistance.
Ann Lewis
Then: White House communications director; Now: Adviser to Ready for Hillary
Lewis gave the first outside contribution to Ready for Hillary after its January 2013 launch. She’s since come on as a formal advisor, attending events like last week’s women’s panel.
