Top State Department Official Expected to Join Biden’s 2024 Campaign
- Rufus Gifford to oversee outreach to Democratic donors
- Move signals new phase as campaign ramps up fundraising
Rufus Gifford
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A top US State Department official, chief protocol officer Rufus Gifford, is expected to leave government at the end of July to join President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, where he will oversee outreach to Democratic donors, according to people familiar with the hire.
Gifford’s move signals the Biden 2024 team is entering a new phase, roughly 16 months from the next presidential election. With a campaign manager and top deputies in place, the president has been ramping up fund-raising efforts. In recent weeks, Biden has visited California, New York and Maryland to headline small gatherings with top donors.