Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Wednesday said the leftover campaign apparatus from President Barack Obama’s re-election bid is more than capable of overpowering the lobbying efforts of the National Rifle Association.
Gibbs said the president may have to return to campaign mode in order to push for new gun policies, suggesting that Obama should barnstorm the country to promote the proposals that the White House will unveil on Wednesday.
“He’s got to get out of the White House and travel the country,” Gibbs said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “He’s got to make his case directly to the people.”
Gibbs said Obama’s ultra-sophisticated campaign operation could serve as a vital asset in making that case, arguing that the grassroots infrastructure that secured the president two terms can trump any effort by the NRA — despite the pro-gun lobby’s claims of a spike in membership since last month’s massacre in Newtown, Conn. Vice President Joe Biden reportedly told House Democrats earlier this week that the White House intended to deploy campaign resources to ramp up support for its gun control proposals.
“The president has the most exciting campaign apparatus ever built. It’s time to turn that loose,” Gibbs said. “It’s time to turn that loose for something more than just an election. If the NRA’s got a list, then Obama for America has a bigger list.”
Watch:
