President Obama’s campaign for re-election announced Wednesday the names of 35 national co-chairs.
In a statement, Jim Messina, Obama for America’s campaign manager, said the national co-chairs “will be tremendous assets on the ground as we build the biggest grassroots campaign in history.”
“They each share the president’s vision for a future where every American can have a fair shot at success, where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded,” said Mr. Messina.
According to the Obama campaign statement, the national co-chairs are charged with serving as ambassadors for the president, advising the campaign on key issues and helping to engage and mobilize voters. The positions are unpaid.
Among the Democratic politicians serving as co-chairs are Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, an Independent, will also serve as a co-chair. Actress Eva Longoria, author Caroline Kennedy were also among the 35 national co-chairs of Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. The list also includes representatives of key constituencies, including prominent Jewish, gay, military, labor and business leaders. The campaign also included six campaign volunteers from states expected to be competitive in the fall race.
The announcement comes as Mr. Obama’s bid for re-election is likely to face a tough challenge. Recent polls show Mr. Obama leading the current field of Republican presidential candidates, however, his bid faces challenges in key swing states.
Others on the national team:
Lynnette Acosta – OFA volunteer leader from Florida
Marc Benioff – CEO of Salesforce.com
Senator Michael Bennet – U.S. Senator from Colorado
Mayor Julian Castro – Mayor of San Antonio
Governor Lincoln Chafee – Governor of Rhode Island
Ann Cherry – Retired teacher and OFA volunteer leader from North Carolina
Representative Judy Chu – Representing the 32nd District of California
Representative Emanuel Cleaver – Representing the 5th District of Missouri
Bill Daley – Former White House Chief of Staff to President Obama, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Maria Elena Durazo – Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Senator Dick Durbin – U.S. Senator from Illinois
Mayor Rahm Emanuel – Mayor of Chicago
Senator Russ Feingold – Former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
Representative Charles A. Gonzalez – Representing the 20th District of Texas
Loretta Harper – High School Counselor and OFA volunteer leader from Nevada
Attorney General Kamala Harris – Attorney General of California
Sai Iyer – Student at Virginia Commonwealth University and OFA volunteer leader from Virginia
Caroline Kennedy – Author/President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
Eva Longoria – Actress and Philanthropist
Felesia Martin – OFA volunteer leader from Wisconsin
Bishop Vashti McKenzie – African Methodist Episcopal Bishop
Kalpen Modi – Actor/Former White House Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement
Admiral John Nathman – Retired U.S. Navy Admiral
Governor Deval Patrick – Governor of Massachusetts
Secretary Federico Pena – Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and U.S. Secretary of Energy
Elaine Price – Retired Ohio resident and OFA volunteer leader from Ohio
Penny Pritzker – Founder and CEO of PSP Capital Partners
John Register – U.S. Army Veteran and Paralympian
Representative Jan Schakowsky – Representing the 9th District of Illinois
Senator Jeanne Shaheen – U.S. Senator from New Hampshire
Joe Solmonese – President of the Human Rights Campaign
Alan Solow – Partner at DLA Piper LLP and past Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
Governor Ted Strickland – Former Governor of Ohio
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Mayor of Los Angeles
