Gibbs to leave White House post

WASHINGTON - Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary and one of the most visible and forceful advocates for President Barack Obama, is quitting his job to become an outside political adviser, part of what he described as a "major retooling" at the top levels of the White House.

The change is among the many expected in the coming days as Obama redefines his leadership team to gear up for a re-election bid and a more powerful Republican Party.

Gibbs said he would be leaving the White House by early February. The top contenders to replace him are two of his deputies, Bill Burton and Josh Earnest, and Jay Carney, communications director to Vice President Joe Biden.

The move alters the dynamic of the White House, particularly combined with the coming departure of senior adviser David Axelrod, who, like Gibbs, has been at Obama's side since the start of his presidential run.

Obama also is weighing a change at the top staff job at the White House: his chief of staff. The interim holder of that job, Pete Rouse, may leave soon, and the president is considering bringing in William Daley, a banking executive and former Commerce secretary under President Bill Clinton.

Gibbs said Obama is likely to announce his new chief economic adviser Friday, the same day the government issues its monthly unemployment report. Gene Sperling, a Treasury official and deficit hawk with ties to Wall Street and the Clinton administration, is considered the most likely to take over as director of the National Economic Council. He would replace Lawrence Summers, who has returned to his teaching position at Harvard University.

In the coming days, Obama also is expected to have a new senior political counselor and two new deputy chiefs of staff. Collectively, the moves reflect that change is coming to the White House in ways that will alter the dynamic of the place - and, in turn, will influence the agenda affecting the nation.

"In many ways this is a pretty major retooling," Gibbs said.