ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has hired a former aide to President Barack Obama to be his national political director, as he prepares to announce a decision about running for president.
O'Malley spokeswoman Lis Smith confirmed Thursday the hiring of Karine Jean-Pierre.
She was Obama's deputy battleground states director for the president's 2012 re-election campaign. She worked as the regional political director in the White House Office of Political Affairs. She also worked as the White House liaison to the Labor Department. She first started working for Obama during his 2008 campaign as the southern regional political director
O'Malley has said he will announce a decision about running for the Democratic nomination for president as soon as this month.