Ellen Moran, Executive Director of Emily’s List since 2005, was named as the next White House Communications Director by President-Elect Barack Obama Saturday. Obama also revealed who will fill other key positions on his communications team. Robert Gibbs, the Obama campaign’s communications director, will be Press Secretary and Daniel Pfeiffer, an Obama campaign spokesman and communications director for the transition, will be Deputy Communications Director, according to the New York Times.
Moran’s selection is being called a ‘surprise’ in the media because she is not part of Obama’s inner circle and because Emily’s List strongly supported Senator Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary contest.
In a statement, Emily’s List President and Founder Ellen R. Malcom said: “We are delighted that Ellen Moran has accepted the position of Communications Director at the White House. I know she will do an excellent job for President-elect Obama, just as she has done for EMILY’s List and Democratic women around the country. As Executive Director for the past two election cycles, Ellen has done a phenomenal job. She deserves tremendous credit for leading EMILY’s List this election cycle as we elected the second largest group of Democratic women in American history. She has been a stalwart ally and true friend for me and I will miss working with her on a daily basis.”
