Biden Approves Campaign Changes As Likelihood of Trump Rematch Grows

President Joe Biden is reshaping the leadership of his 2024 reelection campaign, bringing back familiar figures to take on key roles in preparation for the November elections.

Biden has selected White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, who served as his 2020 campaign manager, and Presidential Senior Adviser Mike Donilon to assume the positions of chairwoman and chief strategist, respectively.

Biden approves campaign shake-up as Trump rematch looms large. https://t.co/HloM0sxBz8

— Brian Schimming (@BrianSchimming) January 24, 2024

Julie Chavez Rodriguez will continue as the campaign manager, with O’Malley Dillon focusing on organizing and executing the electoral strategy, while Donilon will handle messaging and paid media strategy. These changes are set to be implemented in the coming weeks as the campaign shifts into a more general election posture.

Chavez Rodriguez expressed enthusiasm about having O’Malley Dillon and Donilon, key members of the team that contributed to President Biden and Vice President Harris winning the most votes in American history in 2020, leading the campaign full-time for another four years.

The leadership adjustments come in response to criticisms, including those from former President Barack Obama, suggesting that Biden’s campaign is ill-prepared for the general election, particularly if former President Donald Trump secures the 2024 Republican nomination.

Concerns have also arisen about potential mismanagement, as political decisions are being made jointly by the White House and Delaware. Increased pressure stems from Biden's consistently low polling numbers, although public sentiment on the economy has seen improvement since the beginning of the year.

The move is seen as a strategic decision by President Biden and Julie Chavez Rodriguez to have additional top political aides focus exclusively on the reelection efforts as the general election approaches.

Jim Messina, Obama's 2012 campaign manager, commended the decision, stating it aligns with expectations for the White House to strengthen its campaign team.

Democratic strategist Maria Cardona emphasized Julie's effective leadership and the critical nature of bringing trusted leaders on board ahead of the election.

O’Malley Dillon, who previously took over from Greg Schultz during Biden’s 2020 campaign, has a history as the deputy manager of Obama’s 2012 bid.

Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of labor activist Cesar Chavez, served as Biden’s director of intergovernmental affairs at the White House and was the deputy campaign manager in the 2020 campaign under O’Malley Dillon's leadership.