ANITA DUNN
Why she’ll be the selection: Few folks within the president’s interior circle can match her expertise or have earned his belief in the identical manner as Dunn has. A former White Home communications director beneath President Barack Obama, Dunn’s particular areas of focus — messaging, politics and marketing campaign administration — line up with what the president desires as he begins the second half of his time period and a probable reelection bid. Biden’s new reliance on her husband Bob Bauer as his outdoors counsel amid a labeled paperwork probe solely raises Dunn’s centrality to the president. And the chance to make historical past as the primary feminine White Home chief of workers may make the chance, ought to or not it’s provided, laborious to cross up.
Why she received’t be the selection: Dunn doesn’t want the chief of workers title to have an outsized impression on Biden’s subsequent two years. Actually, overseeing all West Wing personnel and day-to-day operations on the White Home would restrict her means to mould Biden’s marketing campaign operation and function a key go-between linking the administration and the reelect. If she is seen as a co-equal of whoever winds up in Klain’s job, she’s higher positioned to affect and combine each operations in her present position.
STEVE RICCHETTI
Why he’ll be the selection: Considered one of Biden’s longest-serving advisers and now a counselor to the president, Ricchetti expressed curiosity within the job in 2020 earlier than Klain was picked. He additionally has expertise within the place: he served as chief of workers to Biden when he was vp. Ricchetti earned the belief of Biden and is usually one of many final folks with whom the president speaks earlier than making an vital resolution, and he has been empowered to steer a number of the White Home’s most important legislative efforts. Ricchetti, who additionally labored in Invoice Clinton’s White Home, has deep ties to many institution Democrats.
Why he received’t be the selection: Ricchetti has confirmed helpful in his present position and Biden might not need him shifting jobs. He additionally can be something however a contemporary voice for the West Wing, since he already has such a major presence. Selecting him would additionally create contemporary scrutiny on his ties to the lobbying world; in his a few years as a lobbyist, his corporations contracted with a protracted checklist of influential shoppers, together with hospitals, drugmakers and telecom firms. His lengthy Washington profession has led to some accusations that he’s a company Democrat and no buddy to progressives.
JEFF ZIENTS
Why he’ll be the selection: A former Obama administration official and shut Biden confidant, Zients ran the White Home’s Covid response, successful inside reward for his cross-government administration expertise and preliminary success in bringing the pandemic beneath management. He’s held quite a lot of high-level positions throughout the Obama and Biden presidencies, giving him a broad understanding of the administration’s interior workings — expertise that allies argue makes him among the many most well-prepared Biden advisers for the all-encompassing chief of workers job. Zients additionally maintains shut ties to Klain and different senior Biden aides relationship again to the Obama administration, when he did stints atop the Nationwide Financial Council and Workplace of Administration and Funds.
Why he received’t be the selection: Whereas he’s cultivated a big selection of relationships inside Democratic circles, Zients has additionally been the topic of rising criticism from the celebration’s progressive wing over his background in administration consulting and dealing with of the pandemic, which has continued nicely past his exit as Covid czar. He additionally doesn’t have intensive political expertise which can be vital for a chief of workers because the president they serve doubtless run for reelection.
MARTY WALSH
Why he’ll be the selection: Biden and the previous mayor of Boston have sturdy private ties, which is essential to a chief of workers place. The president spoke at Walsh’s 2017 inauguration and each have ties and dedication to the labor motion. Certainly, union points have introduced the 2 collectively a number of occasions during the last two years. Walsh’s position within the negotiations between railroad unions and managers was lauded by Biden as profitable and fast; conserving the administration from an embarrassing political second earlier than the midterms. All through the administration, Walsh is nicely appreciated and can be thought of an approachable chief of workers.
Why he received’t be the selection: Walsh hasn’t been shy that he’s curious about discovering his manner again dwelling to Boston in some unspecified time in the future, in keeping with aides round him. His lack of ties to D.C. would make it laborious for him to deal with the day-to-day relationship constructing required for the job. And Walsh’s areas of focus — coverage and labor — aren’t on the high of the checklist of necessities for a chief.
SUSAN RICE
Why she’ll be the selection: Rice, the home coverage czar beneath Biden and U.N. ambassador beneath President Barack Obama, has seen her inventory rise and portfolio develop on this White Home. After a protracted profession in overseas coverage and stints within the Obama and Clinton White Homes, Rice has gotten rather more expertise on home coverage as director of the Home Coverage Council, engaged on points like scholar loans and gun reform. Colleagues describe her as a savvy political operative who’s good at managing the White Home coverage course of.
Why she received’t be the selection: She is a newcomer into Biden’s interior circle and doesn’t have a long-standing shut relationship with Biden. She stays a little bit of a lightning rod from her time within the Obama administration. However, most significantly, she additionally has advised colleagues in latest months that she’s not within the job.
TOM VILSACK
Why he’ll be the selection: Vilsack, the present Agriculture Secretary, is a former presidential rival of Biden’s turned fiercely loyal ally. He’s now somebody Biden leans on to bridge the divide with rural and conservative communities from his Cupboard perch — a talent set that might come in useful ought to Biden run for reelection.
Vilsack acquired behind Biden early within the 2020 race, and caught by him even after a tough exhibiting in Iowa forward of the caucuses. He then returned to the administration to serve in the identical position he held throughout Obama’s tenure, as a private favor to Biden as a result of he requested.
Vilsack has expressed an curiosity within the chief of workers position, in keeping with an individual acquainted with the discussions. His allies tout his expertise as a mayor and governor of the now bright-red Iowa, and describe different doable chief of workers picks, together with Zients and Ricchetti, as “whisperers.”
“There’s loads occurring on the earth proper now,” stated one other particular person near Biden. “Would you like a whisperer or would you like somebody who can govern?”
Why he received’t be the selection: USDA officers have lengthy anticipated Vilsack to step down earlier than the top of Biden’s tenure. He had a nasty again (which is a lot better after surgical procedure this previous 12 months) and grandchildren again in Iowa he’d wish to spend extra time with. He has sturdy bipartisan ties, however has much less sway in rural communities than he as soon as did. He additionally spent 90 minutes with senior USDA workers this week speaking by plans for upcoming farm invoice negotiations, and didn’t give any indication he may depart his publish. However rumors about his doable departure grew so scorching in latest months that allies of Marcia Fudge, the present secretary of Housing and City Improvement, have put out feelers to USDA officers about her doubtlessly succeeding Vilsack, in keeping with two folks acquainted with the conversations.
Some progressives and civil rights teams have criticized Vilsack for pushing out a Black USDA official throughout Obama’s tenure, after right-wing media falsely accused her of being racist. Vilsack and the White Home later apologized.
With reporting by Adam Cancryn, Chris Cadelago, Jonathan Lemire, Eli Stokols, Daniel Lippman and Meredith Lee Hill.
