Josh Earnest

White House Deputy Press Secretary (since January 2009)

(White House Photo/
Chuck Kennedy)

Why He Matters

Earnest is a key member of the Obama message team. Once an Obama campaign spokesman, Earnest now speaks on behalf of the White House on the hot topics of the day.

Earnest began the 2008 presidential election cycle as the national communications director for then-Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D). When Vilsack dropped out in early 2007, he joined then Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) campaign as Iowa communications director and moved with the primaries to South Carolina and Texas, eventually becoming deputy campaign communications director at Obama headquarters in Chicago.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Communications director, Presidential Inaugural Committee, (November 2008 to January 2009); Iowa communications director, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) presidential campaign (2007 to 2008); National communications director, Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) presidential campaign, (December 2006 to February 2007); Communications director, Jim Davis Florida gubernatorial campaign (April 2006 to November 2006); Regional Media Director, Democratic National Committee (2003 to 2005)
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.