Robert Gibbs to step down as White House press secretary

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs is to step down from his current assignment to serve as an outside political adviser to US President Barack Obama in his re-election campaign.
 
According to the New York Times, Gibbs said he intended to leave the post in early February.

“Stepping back will take some adjusting. But at the same time, I have a feeling that I will keep myself quite busy, not just with speaking, but continuing to help the president,” the newspaper quoted Gibbs, as saying.

The 39-year-old further said that a successor has not been decided yet, but would likely be announced within a fortnight.

Gibbs had assumed the role of press secretary on January 20, 2009, and had given his first official briefing on January 22 of that year.