Politico: Progressives, once skeptical of Biden, rally around his chief of staff
President Joe Biden is enjoying an extended period of peacetime with the progressive wing of his party. But keeping it that way may depend on whether he can keep hold of his chief of staff.
Energized by the White Houses actions on key priorities such as climate, student debt and marijuana, progressives are openly rooting for Ron Klain to stay on as Bidens top aide. And they view better-than-expected midterms as vindication of the presidents decision to pursue an expansive agenda.
A lot of people see him as one of the few avenues they have to have a glimpse into the dynamics and considerations of whats happening in the White House, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said of Klain. When I think about some of the conversations that build trust, build the sense of open communication, hes usually part of that.
An around-the-clock communicator who courted Democrats grassroots groups even before Biden took office, Klain has become a critical conduit between liberal leaders and the administrations upper echelon, according to interviews with more than a dozen leaders and lawmakers on the left. He offers a level of access the left has rarely enjoyed and that progressives now say will be crucial to maintaining a united Democratic front in the face of divided government.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/21/ron-klain-white-house-west-wing-00069645