Obama Said Leaning Toward McDonough for Chief of Staff
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President Barack Obama has signaled to his senior advisers that Denis McDonough, currently a deputy national security adviser, is his leading candidate to succeed Jack Lew as White House chief of staff, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Selecting McDonough would elevate a former congressional staffer whose loyalty to Obama is unquestioned, according to the people. The chief of staff serves as the president’s gatekeeper, making the position one of the most powerful in the White House.