Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin knows the new White House Chief of Staff well. Pete Rouse served in a similar role under Durbin.
It’s a difficult job even in the best of times, but with President Obama’s approval slipping, Pete Rouse enters his new role under tough circumstances. Rouse worked for Durbin when the Senator was a member of the U.S. House. Durbin calls Rouse “extremely talented.”
DURBIN: He is not the kind of person you are going to like as a newsman. He just wants to go to work and do his job. He doesn’t plan on appearing on any talk shows on Sunday mornings. But he knows the government well. The President respects him. The President hired him as his Chief of Staff when he was elected to the Senate.
Durbin says Rouse will need a period of adjustment. He says whether or not he can help advance the Obama Administration’s agenda going forward actually depends more on Republicans.
Durbin, a Democrat, says he expects the GOP will gain seats in Congress in the upcoming elections. He says if Republicans want to work with Democrats, there will be opportunity for accomplishments.
Originally reported by Chicago Public Radio. Read the original article here.