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Uber hires Obama's former campaign manager

Uber has hired David Plouffe, President Obama's former campaign manager and White House adviser, as its "senior vice president of policy and strategy."

Plouffe's position with the private-car company will begin next month. Plouffe, 47, will be responsible for Uber's global branding and communications — essentially, he'll be Uber's campaign manager.

Plouffe was responsible for Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and plans to "run Uber's communication efforts much like a political race," The New York Times reports. His hiring signals that the company is getting serious about overcoming regulations, both domestic and abroad, that threaten to slow its advance.

"We're on an inexorable path of progress here," Plouffe told the Times. "Uber is making transportation safer. It's providing jobs; it's cutting down on drunk and distracted driving. I think the mission is really important."