ABOVE: Rufus Gifford. (Photo public domain)
Rufus Gifford, a former U.S. ambassador during the Obama administration who has served as a high-profile fundraiser for the Democratic Party, has been named deputy campaign manager for Joe Biden, the campaign confirmed April 29.
The former U.S. ambassador to Denmark from 2013 to 2017, Gifford was one of seven openly gay ambassadors who served under the Obama administration.
As deputy campaign manager focused on finance, external outreach and coalition building, Gifford is charged with focusing on the intersections between finance, policy and political work and occasionally serving as a Biden spokesperson, campaign officials told the Washington Blade.
Gifford had endorsed Biden in the Democratic Party and prior to the Iowa caucuses when several contenders were still in the race. Since that time, Gifford has also served media surrogate for the presidential hopeful.
Prior to that role, Gifford was a campaign fundraiser for Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign, bundling millions of dollars from California donors, then served as finance chair for the Democratic National Committee and a fundraiser for Obama’s 2012 campaign.
