Shaheen Named Obama Campaign Co-Chair

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, is joining President Obama's re-election campaign as a national co-chair.

Shaheen, on a team of 35 co-chairs, will advise the campaign on key issues and work to engage and mobilize voters nationwide, not just in swing-state New Hampshire, according to the Obama for America campaign.

"President Obama has the right vision for this country," Shaheen said in the OFA announcement. "I am proud to support a campaign that embraces investment in America's future and support a leader in innovation, education, and energy."

Shaheen has experience in this department. She served as national chair for the Kerry-Edwards presidential campaign in 2004. Her resume includes New Hampshire campaign chairwoman for Carter-Mondale (1973-76), and a high-profile role in Gary Hart's New Hampshire campaign (1979-80).

Her husband, Bill Shaheen, was co-chairman of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, before resigning and apologizing in 2007 for making a comment about Barack Obama's past drug use being fodder for GOP attacks. Nevertheless, the Shaheen popularity in the state contributed to Clinton winning the 2008 New Hampshire Primary. 

Shaheen served in the state Senate from 1990 to 1996, and as New Hampshire governor from 1997 to 2003. After losing a shot at the U.S. Senate to Republican John E. Sununu in 2002, she became a director of the Kennedy School of Government's Institute of Politics. She returned to the campaign trail and, in 2008, defeated Sununu to win her current seat in the U.S. Senate.

The OFA announcement indicates the national co-chairs will promote the president's record on rebuilding the economy after the recession, support for the middle class, the Affordable Care Act, investments in education, expanding manufacturing, and increasing energy independence.

Jim Messina, campaign manager, said the national co-chairs would be assets as they build "the biggest grassroots campaign in history."

The list of Obama for America National Co-Chairs:

• Lynnette Acosta, OFA volunteer leader from Florida
• Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com
• Sen. Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado
• San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro
• Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee
• Ann Cherry, a retired teacher and OFA volunteer leader from North Carolina
• Representative Judy Chu, of the 32nd District of California
• Representative Emanuel Cleaver, of the 5th District of Missouri
• Former Obama White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley
• Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Treasurer of Los Angeles County AFL-CIO
• U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois
• Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
• Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin
• Representative Charles A. Gonzalez, of the 20th District of Texas
• Loretta Harper, high school counselor and OFA volunteer leader from Nevada
• California Attorney General Kamala Harris
• Sai Iyer, student at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Caroline Kennedy, author, president of John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
• Eva Longoria, actress and philanthropist
• Leisa Martin, OFA volunteer leader from Wisconsin
• African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Vashti McKenzi
• Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller
• Kalpen Modi, actor and former White House associate director for Office of Public Engagement
• Retired U.S. Navy Admiral John Nathman
• Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick
• Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Federico Pena
• Elaine Price, retired Ohio resident and OFA volunteer leader from Ohio
• Penny Pritzker, founder and CEO of PSP Capital Partners
• John Register, U.S. Army veteran and Paralympian
• Representative Jan Schakowsky, of the 9th District of Illinois
• U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
• Joe Solmonese, president of Human Rights Campaign
• Alan Solow, partner at DLA Piper LLP and past chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
• Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland
• Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa