Ann O’Leary, a possible fallback option to lead President Joe Biden’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has been touting her own Senate support.
Politico reported her comments came despite her public and private backing of her embattled friend, Neera Tanden, who has been nominated for the post.
O’Leary, a longtime Democrat operative, recently served as chief of staff for California Gov. Gavin Newsom. She had previously worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
She had originally been under consideration for OMB director, but Biden eventually decided to nominate Tanden.
Now sources close to Biden have told Newsmax that Tanden will soon ask that her nomination be withdrawn.
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, have announced they will oppose the nomination of Tanden.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he also will vote against Tanden, citing her controversial Twitter feed in which she issued insulting comments and political attacks at numerous lawmakers.
O’Leary has continued to support Tanden and believes the administration could still find enough votes to get her nomination confirmed.
But she has let it be known that she is personally qualified for the job, as well. And Politico noted sources say she is telling associates she could be confirmed by the Senate.
She told Politico: “Neera Tanden is exceptionally well qualified and should be confirmed for this position, I have worked with her for years and years, and I can’t imagine a better advocate for President Biden to get his budget through Congress and help manage the policies of this administration. I am 1,000 percent behind her.”