This James Rubin -- not to be confused with the other one -- is the son of Clinton administration Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, who is still close to the Clintons.

The younger Rubin explained himself.

"I have gotten to know him a little bit and he is hugely impressive and clearly he is going to be an important person in the political world for decades," he said.

Obama had been courting Rubin as far back as January, when they dined together at a Washington steakhouse.

--Jason Horowitz