 Malley also covers developments in the United States that affect policy toward the Middle East.According to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, Malley provided informal advice to the campaign in the past without having any formal role in the campaign.On May 9, 2008, the campaign severed ties with Malley when the British "Times" reported that Malley had been in discussions with the militant Palestinian group Hamas, listed by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization.