President Obama is unlikely to endorse any of the candidates for chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the White House said Monday.
“I don’t anticipate that the president is going to weigh in aggressively in support or against any of the candidates,” press secretary Josh Earnest said.
The race to replace acting DNC Chair Donna Brazile has drawn increased attention given controversy over past statements made by front-runner Rep. Keith Ellison. Ellison has come under fire for his connections to the Nation of Islam and his past statements about Israel, which some have seen as anti-Semitic.
Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, and Jaime Harrison, chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, have also entered the race. Former DNC Chair Howard Dean withdrew from contention last week.
Earnest said Obama likely has a private preference in the contest to lead his party after its stunning defeat in November.
“He may [have an opinion], he just may not choose to express it,” Earnest said.
