Former President Barack Obama is allegedly playing a behind-the-scenes role in Kamala Harris and Tim Walz's 2024 White House campaign, according to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. In an interview on Sunday with 770 WABC's "The Cats Roundtable," McCarthy asserted that Obama is quietly steering the Harris-Walz ticket by deploying his trusted former aides to manage the campaign.
"If you're watching the campaign now, some of Obama's key people such as David Plouffe and others are now working on the campaign. You're getting the Obamas shifting from running the White House to now running this campaign," McCarthy stated.
David Plouffe, a central figure in Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and later a senior White House advisor, has indeed joined Harris and Walz as a senior campaign aide. Plouffe is not the only Obama-era figure to reemerge in Harris's campaign. Stephanie Cutter, who managed Obama's 2012 re-election bid, is now advising Harris on strategy messaging, while Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, who played key roles in both Obama's and Joe Biden's presidential campaigns, is serving as Harris's campaign chairwoman. Eric Holder, Obama's attorney general from 2009 to 2015, was also involved in the vetting process that led to Harris selecting Walz as her vice-presidential running mate.
Despite McCarthy's claims, an insider close to Obama dismissed the notion that the former president is "secretly running" the campaign. The source noted that it is not unusual for seasoned campaign strategists to return and work for other Democratic candidates vying for the White House. "President Obama will get involved if Harris asks him to," the insider explained.
The allegations by McCarthy come at a time when the Harris-Walz ticket is under intense scrutiny, with McCarthy describing it as "the most liberal ticket in the history of American politics." He expressed concern over the influence of San Francisco and Minnesota politics being spread across the country, referencing Harris's roots in California and Walz's governorship in Minnesota.
McCarthy also criticized Harris's choice of Walz as her running mate over Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a decision he believes could weaken the campaign's chances in crucial battleground states like Pennsylvania and Georgia. "Any political-science person would tell you it's all coming down to Pennsylvania and Georgia. Why would Harris skip Shapiro in picking a VP?" McCarthy questioned. He further criticized Harris for her absence during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress, suggesting that this reflected poorly on her commitment to standing up for Israel.
McCarthy's claims have sparked debate about the extent of Obama's involvement in the current Democratic campaign. The former president, who endorsed Harris shortly after President Joe Biden exited the race, has a long history of supporting his former colleagues and protégés. In a phone call to Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, both Barack and Michelle Obama expressed their pride and commitment to helping Harris win the election. "We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," the former president told Harris.
While McCarthy's comments have drawn attention, they also raise questions about the influence of past administrations on current campaigns. Obama's legacy remains a powerful force within the Democratic Party, and his endorsement carries significant weight. However, whether his involvement extends beyond moral support to direct campaign management remains a topic of speculation.
