From The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder.
The DNC transition beginsThe Democratic National Committee began a four-week-long transition yesterday.
Jennifer Dillon O'Malley, the DNC's new executive director, greeted employees at an all-staff meeting, bringing with her two lieutenants, Mitch Stewart and Jeremy Bird. Stewart and Bird will run Organizing for America, the presidential incarnation of Obama's presidential campaign. Dillon O'Malley promised the DNC staff that she's committed to continuing Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy, although she did not provide specifics. She's begun meeting with current staffers to seek their input. How many will stay, how many will go -- all that is to be determined.
Over the next month, Dillon O'Malley has a lot to figure out. The DNC's internal politics can be tough to negotiate, with state chairs often at odds with each other, with an executive committee that wants some independence, with a chairman, Tim Kaine, who hasn't worked with Dillon O'Malley before. And then there's the White House: the executive director of the DNC will recieve marching orders from senior adviser David Axelrod and the White House political office. Kaine is not expect(ed) to make day-to-day decisions.
WH > Axelrod > Dillon O'Malley > Kaine