Obama’s 2012 Campaign ‘Ambassadors’
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(Image Credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
President Obama’s re-election campaign today designated 35 state, local and community leaders as national co-chairs, or “ambassadors” for the president, who will play a high-profile role in defending his record and mobilizing voters for November.
The list includes current and former Democratic members of Congress, governors and mayors, as well as business and labor leaders, members of clergy and a few local campaign organizers, a nod to the value Obama places on his grassroots volunteers.
Former White House chiefs of staff Bill Daley and Rahm Emanuel will play key roles. Actor Kalpen Modi (aka Kal Penn) is expected to lead outreach to younger voters, while actress Eva Longoria will spearhead efforts to reach women and Hispanics.
All are “proud of the president’s record and leadership,” the campaign said in a statement.
Also notable are the names not on the list as Obama ambassadors.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., played a key role for Obama in 2008 but faces a fierce re-election battle in a red state.
Neither former President Bill Clinton nor Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are listed. (Secretary Clinton cannot participate in political activity because of her role as the nation’s chief diplomat.)
And despite Modi and Longoria, there are few big Hollywood stars, such as George Clooney or Jay-Z, whom the campaign had reportedly sought to enlist.
See a full list of 2012 celebrity endorsements here.
Bruce Springsteen, who stumped for Obama in 2008, said last week he won’t be hitting the campaign trail for Obama this time, but still supports his re-election.
Full list of Obama 2012 National Co-Chairs:
- Lynnette Acosta – Obama for America (OFA) volunteer leader from Florida
- Marc Benioff – CEO of Salesforce.com
- Sen. Michael Bennet – U.S. senator from Colorado
- Mayor Julian Castro – Mayor of San Antonio
- Gov. Lincoln Chafee – Governor of Rhode Island
- Ann Cherry – Retired teacher and OFA volunteer leader from North Carolina
- Rep. Judy Chu - Representing the 32nd District of California
- Rep.e 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
- Sen. Dick Durbin – U.S. Senator from Illinois
- Mayor Rahm Emanuel – Mayor of Chicago
- Sen. Russ Feingold – Former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
- Rep. 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
- Attorney General Tom Miller – Attorney General of Iowa
- Kalpen Modi – Actor/Former White House Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement
- Adm. John Nathman – Retired U.S. Navy Admiral
- Gov. 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
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky – Representing the 9th District of Illinois
- Sen. 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
- Gov. Ted Strickland – Former Governor of Ohio
- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa – Mayor of Los Angeles
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
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I’m President Obama’s 2012 Campaign Ambassador headquartered at Political Punch. I’ve been working hard, Mr. President. I work tirelessly day and night for you and sleep sitting up at my computer. I live the American Dream.
Posted by: Dan | February 22, 2012, 9:14 am 9:14 am
Anyone who can genuinely support this President’s attempts to become a dictator in America, is NO Patriot!
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 22, 2012, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Rick MaDaniel, I support this President and I dare you to call me me a non patriot to my face. Arm chair patriots like yourself are the reason the GOP is going to lose this election.
Posted by: USMCvoter | February 22, 2012, 9:45 am 9:45 am
““ambassadors” for the president, who will play a high-profile role in defending his record . . . ” – Devin Dwyer
Y I K E S !
Toughest job on the planet.
Sounds more like a punishment than a prestige position.
Applicants had better be well versed in Spruth.
Spruth = Lies that are made to seem like the Truth with the very intense and liberal application of heavy amounts of Spin.
Posted by: Noz | February 22, 2012, 9:53 am 9:53 am
…aside to USMCVOTER…….I am happy to see that you didn’t object to Rick McDaniel’s comment that Obama w2ants to be a dictator. Signed: The Patriot
Posted by: reggie | February 22, 2012, 10:05 am 10:05 am
“Anyone who can genuinely support this President’s attempts to become a dictator in America, is NO Patriot!”
Posted by: Rick McDaniel
Yeah, he’d be a dictator of a country he scorns. Ironic. Obama sucks.
Posted by: rodney | February 22, 2012, 10:44 am 10:44 am
“Anyone who can genuinely support this President’s attempts to become a dictator in America, is NO Patriot!”
Posted by: Rick McDaniel
Yeah, he’d be a dictator of a country he scorns. Ironic. Obama sucks.
Posted by: Rodney
True on all counts.
Posted by: noflyzone2 | February 22, 2012, 10:48 am 10:48 am
Obama’s tax rate on dividends to soar to 44.8%…
Retirees to get hammered…
Christie To Warren Buffett: ‘Just Write A Check And Shut Up’…
Percentage of Americans who pay no tax hits 49.5…
——————————————————————————–
Tax revenue plunges in UK after 50% rate implemented…
=======================================================
Ambassadors or radical left wing extremist against America?????
Time will tell
Posted by: Yep I said that | February 22, 2012, 11:29 am 11:29 am
From the story: “ambassadors” for the president, who will play a high-profile role in defending his record and mobilizing voters for November.” Translation: friends of Obama and political hacks who spin and lie about his record of failure, and will be sure voters, real and duplicate and non-legal, will all show up to vote for the teleprompted windbag failure known as Obama. Same as it ever was.
Posted by: rafael zinn | February 22, 2012, 11:45 am 11:45 am
“From the story: “ambassadors” for the president, who will play a high-profile role in defending his record and mobilizing voters for November.” Translation: friends of Obama and political hacks who spin and lie about his record of failure, and will be sure voters, real and duplicate and non-legal, will all show up to vote for the teleprompted windbag failure known as Obama. Same as it ever was.”
Posted by: RAFAEL ZINN
Yes, indeed. Gettin’ the obamabots into action, to the detriment of the country.
Posted by: Stephen | February 22, 2012, 11:47 am 11:47 am
“I’m President Obama’s 2012 Campaign Ambassador headquartered at Political Punch. I’ve been working hard, Mr. President. I work tirelessly day and night for you and sleep sitting up at my computer. I live the American Dream.”
Posted by: Dan
If the post is not a sarcastic joke, which it very well may be, I hope that one day it dawns on you how misguided your energies were. Obama is the phoniest, and one of the lamest, presidents we’ve ever had.
Posted by: michael Stamper | February 22, 2012, 11:51 am 11:51 am
I’m sure is was just an oversight that George Stephanopolis’ name isn’t on the list…..
Posted by: wheresmymoney | February 22, 2012, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
More improvement as now five major national polls have the President at 50% approval ratings.
Posted by: Yana | February 22, 2012, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
Take a look at all of the America-hating liberals on this list. Very sad times in America. Obabble MUST be scared that REAL Americans do not like or trust him. And rightfully so.
Posted by: Zman | February 22, 2012, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Take a look at all of the America-hating liberals on this list
Posted by: Zman | February 22, 2012, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Sorry, the right wing smear campaigns don’t work. People are walking away from the Republican party in droves just because of these kinds of ugly, unfounded, negative attacks. Creepy.
Posted by: Stan | February 22, 2012, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
STAN the un-man. Your boy Obabble is all about negative attacks. He attacks people and companies who create and try to sustain jobs under his Marxist administration, he tries to tell Insurance companies that they have to pay for things that other organizations like Churches (there’s that Religious Freedom Constitution thingy again that you liberals hate) push back on and he decides to save money by gutting the ONLY people that keep America safe. The Military. Yeah, Obabble is all about fairness. His version of fairness comes with no work, a flat screen T.V. and a welfare check. Go figure.
Posted by: Zman | February 22, 2012, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
Posted by: Zman | February 22, 2012, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
Again more negative attacks from the Republican right. It’s a losing tactic and the polls are showing it. Count on the Republicans losing seats in November – just watch the Republican candidates calling each other liars, cheats and ethical failures – people are not interested in voting for them any longer.
Posted by: Jerry | February 22, 2012, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Stan, the lastest polls show that those who call themselves democrats has decreased by over 5% and those who call themselfs republicans has increased by over 3% now that’s an 8 point span.
Jerry, and what about the cheaters, liars, and tax evaders, insider traders like, Maxine Waters, Pelosi, Geitner, Charles Rangel etc. etc.
Posted by: Lizzie | February 22, 2012, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
“Creepy.”
POSTED BY: STAN
Yes, Obama, the temporary misguided fad of a few years ago, has become “creepy” at best. No wonder he has lost millions of the Independents he had last time round.
Posted by: SAI | February 23, 2012, 7:44 am 7:44 am