Letter from Former Obama Officials Endorsing Tom Perriello for Virginia

Governor
March 22, 2017

Almost a decade ago, many of us joined Barack Obamas insurgent campaign for President because we
believed not only in his progressive agenda, but also in his ability to inspire and organize a movement for
change across the country. Today, we are prouder than ever that we joined him and worked to move our
country forward.

Throughout that journey, we met a number of incredible leaders who took up President Obamas call to
action and helped us deliver change for the American people. One who stood out for all of us was Tom
Perriello. As former members of the Obama campaign and administration, we are proud to
support Tom in his campaign for Governor of Virginia.

Tom embodies the pragmatic progressive values that President Obama fought so hard for
over the past eight years. In Congress, Tom stood with President Obama even though he
represented a red district to pass the Affordable Care Act, to support climate change legislation to
protect our planet, and to help prevent a depression through the Recovery Act. Tom didnt just take these
votes; he defended them and ran on them despite the tea party wave that scared others into political
expediency. While many Democrats ran away from the president in 2010, Tom didnt. Toms willingness
to stand with President Obama and our administration is a testament to his courage and conviction to do
good above all else. Its rare to find that in a politician. We all saw it in our former boss, President Obama,
and we see it in Tom, too.

Some of us also got to work with Tom when he joined the State Department, beginning in 2014. In his first
role leading the quadrennial diplomatic review, then later as the United States Special Envoy to the Great
Lakes region of Africa, we saw Toms keen management ability and his deep commitment to justice and
peace. If Tom represents Virginia with the same strength, passion and boldness as he did our country
abroad, the Commonwealth will be in good hands.

The right leader at the right moment can do extraordinary good. We are at a fearful crossroads in this
country. We were as disappointed as anyone to see Donald Trump, a man who represents everything we
have stood against, be elected. We have also watched with horror as he has assaulted so many of the
progressive gains we made. It will take strong and courageous leaders to fight back and put
forth new ideas to lead our party and our people into the progressive future.

We hope Virginians and our fellow progressives will join us in supporting Tom Perriello.

Signed,

David Plouffe, former White House Senior Advisor and Obama 2008 Campaign Manager

Dan Pfeiffer, former White House Senior Advisor

Nancy-Ann DeParle, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff

Stephanie Cutter, former White House Deputy Senior Advisor and Obama 2012 Deputy Campaign
Manager

Patrick Gaspard, former White House Director of Political Affairs and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa

Cecilia Muoz, former Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council

Jennifer Palmieri, former White House Communications Director

Julianna Smoot, former White House Social Secretary and Obama 2012 Deputy Campaign Manager

Amy Rosenbaum, former White House Director of Legislative Affairs

Tina Tchen, former Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama and Executive Director of the White
House Council on Women and Girls

Jon Carson, former Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

Joshua DuBois, former Executive Director of White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships

Robert Malley, former White House Special ISIS Advisor

Sarah Hurwitz, former Head Speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama

Buffy Wicks, former Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

Tara McGuinness, former White House Senior Communications Advisor

Nathaniel Lubin, former White House Director of Digital Strategy

Macon Phillips, former White House Director of Digital Strategy

Andrea Purse, former White House Director of Broadcast Media

Jim Papa, former Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs

Kyle Lierman, former White House Senior Associate Director of Public Engagement and Senior Policy
Advisor

Lise Clavel, former Special Assistant to the President and Director of Public Engagement for Vice
President Biden

Teddy Goff, former Obama 2012 Digital Director

Larry Grisolano, former Obama 2012 Director of Paid Media

Chauncey McLean, former Obama 2012 Director of Media Tracking

Christina Reynolds, former White House Director of Media Affairs and Obama 2008 Director of Rapid
Response

Stephanie Valencia, former Principal Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

Gautam Raghavan, former White House Public Engagement Advisor

Kareem Dale, former Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

Gary Lee, former Director of Planning for the White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach