FILE - White House Press Secretary Jay Carney (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
WASHINGTON - White House press secretary Jay Carney is leaving his post and his No. 2 is taking over.<br />
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President Barack Obama announced Carney's departure in a surprise appearance at in the White House press briefing room Friday. He said principal deputy press secretary Josh Earnest will take over the job.<br />
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Obama called Carney one of his closest friends and a great press secretary whom he said will continue to rely on as an outside adviser.<br />
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The president said Carney plans to take the summer off before getting a new job.
