Top Clinton loyalist joining Obama camp

Neera Tanden, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, will reportedly become Barack Obama's director of domestic policy.

Published June 27, 2008 3:38PM (EDT)

Neera Tanden, who had been policy director of Hillary Clinton's campaign, will now be joining Barack Obama's campaign in a similar role, Politico's Ben Smith reports.

Tanden is a longtime aide to Clinton -- she served in Bill Clinton's White House as senior policy advisor to the first lady, and she was deputy campaign manager and policy director for Clinton's first run for the Senate. She'll reportedly be director of domestic policy in Obama's camp.

Smith reports that there are apparently no ill feelings toward Tanden over the decision. "[Tanden's] move is not seen in Hillaryland as a defection," Smith says, "but as a natural element of the shift to the general election."

A spokesman for Obama hasn't responded to a request for comment from Salon.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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