US President Barack Obama on Wednesday met William Daley, a top candidate to serve as his new chief of staff, as a major White House staff reshuffle gathered pace.
Mr Daley, a Clinton-era commerce secretary met Mr Obama and other administration officials, an official said on condition of anonymity.
There was no indication on whether Mr Daley had been or would be offered the job. Mr Obama's first chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, like Daley a renowned Chicago power broker, left in 2009 to run for mayor in his home city.
The job has since been held on an interim basis by Pete Rouse, a Washington insider and backroom player.
Mr Daley's visit to the White House came on the day that Mr Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs announced that he would resign but continue to fight the President's cause outside the White House.
Gibbs will also take a position on Mr Obama's emerging 2012 reelection campaign.