Skip Navigation
Marc Ambinder

Marc Ambinder - Marc Ambinder is the White House correspondent for National Journal and a contributing editor at The Atlantic. More

Marc Ambinder is the White House correspondent for National Journal. He previously served as the politics editor, and is now a contributing editor, for The Atlantic, where he curated the influential Politics channel on TheAtlantic.com and contributed to the magazine. He was also a chief political consultant to CBS News. Earlier, at NJ's Hotline, Ambinder was the founding editor of "Hotline On Call," a pathbreaking political news blog. He also worked as a producer and reporter for the ABC News Political Unit and was one of the founders of ABC's "The Note." Born in New York City, raised in Central Florida, Ambinder is a 2001 graduate of Harvard and lives in Washington, D.C.

James Johnson Decides To Support Obama

By Marc Ambinder
Jun 19 2007, 11:54 AM ET Comment

For more than a decade, perhaps no Democrat in Washington better exemplified the city's political-corporate-cultural elite than James A. Johnson, the former head of Fannie Mae.

Johnson, according to two Democrats, including one with direct knowledge of the decision, will support Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Mr., Johnson did not respond to e-mails and a telephone calling seeking his confirmation or a comment. He is famously reluctant to speak to the press, which is one reason why he has become a trusted adviser to so many politcians.

In 2004, Johnson was tapped by Sen. John Kerry to direct his vice-presidential search process. There were no leaks.

His resume spans the elite axis of the entreprenurial, the artistic, and the political. He was CEO of Fannie Mae before that job became controversial, has served as chairman of the Kennedy Center, and was a senior aide to Walter Mondale before settling into life as vice chairman of Perseus, LLC, one of those big private equity banks in DC.

According to Bob Shrum's new book, Kerry wanted Johnson to serve as his White House chief of staff.

Johnson is married to Maxine Isaacs, a professor at the Kennedy School of Government who is a political force in her own right.

Presented by

More at The Atlantic

'Black Lagoon': The First, Great Pretty-Girl-Attacked-By-Aquatic-Beast Film? The First Great Pretty-Girl-Attacked-By-Aquatic-Beast Film
Hey Voters: The Kill List Is What Matters Hey Voters: The Kill List Is What Matters
Sex Selection in America: Why It Persists and How We Can Change It The Right Way to Fight Sex Selection
The Youthful Magic of 'Moonrise Kingdom' The Youthful Magic of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Aretha Franklin's Platinum Year Aretha Franklin's Platinum Year

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Afghanistan: May 2012

Jun 1, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

Marc Ambinder
from the Magazine

The Ally From Hell

Pakistan lies. It hosted Osama bin Laden (knowingly or not). Its government is barely functional.…