A top Obama White House official met in July with the people informally planning to assist a 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, Politico’s Maggie Haberman reported Thursday.
John Podesta, currently counselor to President Barack Obama and formerly chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, attended a meeting at the Washington, D.C., offices of the Messina Group, founded by Obama 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina.
Politico reported that in 20 interviews, Podesta was named the most likely candidate to be the campaign chair for a Clinton 2016 run. Sources also told Haberman that Clinton advisers have discussed having Podesta take a top role in any potential campaign.
Podesta’s attendance was confirmed at the July meeting by multiple sources, according to Politico. White House officials and Podesta declined to comment on the record.
Podesta has long been a bridge between the Clinton and Obama worlds, which have been bleeding together ahead of a presumed Hillary 2016 run. Priorities USA, the Obama 2012 super PAC, has aligned itself with a Clinton bid. Other top Obama campaign officials are now advising Ready for Hillary, the super PAC building a grassroots network for a Clinton campaign.
