Zuckerberg Hire Raises Rumors of a White House Run

Hiring veteran Democratic pollster raises rumors he's looking far beyond Facebook
By Linda Hervieux,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 3, 2017 12:11 AM CDT
Zuckerberg Hire Raises Rumors of a White House Run
Harvard dropout Mark Zuckerberg delivers the commencement address at elite college in May.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Mark Zuckerberg has hired a top Democratic pollster, further fueling speculation that the Facebook CEO could be considering trading in a corner office for one of the oval variety, Politico reports. The Zuckerberg has repeatedly denied he is mulling a presidential bid, but bringing on consultant Joel Benenson—who has worked for former President Obama and was the chief strategist of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign—did little to quell the rumors. Benenson was brought on to do research for Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan’s nonprofit, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

But he's not the first bold-faced political name on the Zuckerberg payroll: In January, Zuckerberg hired David Plouffe, Obama's 2008 campaign manager, and former George W. Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman sits on the Facebook board. Zuckerberg has been zipping around the country as part of "A Year of Travel," a tour of all 50 states that some have likened to a campaign-style listening tour, the Hill notes. "Some of you have asked if this challenge means I'm running for public office," the 33-year-old posted previously on Facebook. "I'm not." (The most-loved CEOs aren't who you'd expect.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X