Uber hires former Obama adviser to lobby for ride sharing

Uber Technologies Inc., the ride-sharing company that is battling established taxi companies in Pennsylvania and much of the nation, has hired former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe as senior vice president of policy and strategy, the company said Tuesday.

Plouffe will help Uber lobby lawmakers and regulators and devise strategy for breaking into new markets. Uber said he will oversee "all global policy and political activities, communications and Uber branding efforts."

Plouffe ran Obama's successful presidential campaign in 2008 and was a senior adviser to the president from 2011 to 2013.

- Paul Nussbaum