[EmilyGeiger]

1 the Chief of Staff

Remember he lost faith in Mike Novak in season 3 because of him plotting against him. In season 4 they still had a tense relationship.

[silent_jonny]

Palmer contacting Mike would make sense, but like you said, their relationship was tense.

Apparently, Palmer and Martha Logan had a much closer relationship and maybe he thought that would be the fastest route to the president.