Chicago is the likely base for Obama's reelection campain

[onehandle]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Reporting from Washington — The White House says President Obama has not made a decision on where to locate his reelection headquarters for 2012, but observers expect the campaign to return to its 2008 base: Chicago. Such a decision would buck recent history. Every two-term president in the last 30 years — George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan — set up reelection campaign offices near the White House or in suburban Virginia.

A key factor favoring Chicago's selection is the anti- Washington climate that has swept the country. Another is the insurgency candidacy anticipated from Obama's rivals, who are expected to make the case that the times are bad, the nation's capital is broken, Obama has been captured by Washington — and they offer voters an alternative. Running the reelection effort out of Chicago wouldn't stop those arguments, but it could blunt them.

One sign that the campaign may be based in Chicago is the planned return to the city of David Axelrod, the top strategist behind Obama's win in 2008 and a White House senior advisor since. After Obama's State of the Union address in late January, Axelrod is expected to come back to Chicago, possibly in February, and begin ratcheting up what's known as "the reelect."

A Chicago base would offer plenty of advantages. The city is loaded with longtime loyalists, many with fundraising muscle. It's within striking distance of battleground states Obama must court: Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. It's far enough from Washington to avoid those unwelcome political consultants who, as one Democratic strategist put it, are "trying to get a piece of the ad money and always in your ear offering their 2 cents."

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-obama-campaign-headquarters-chi20101226,0,6436335.story

[nyy1998]

1. Nice to know that my donations will pay for several O'Hare to Reagan flights

:eyes:

[breadandwine]

9. This is great news. In Chicago Obama can hang out with Rahm Emanuel.

We know how successful that was.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. The Chicago police can protect his HQ from break-ins

you know, with a few contributions to Mayor Rahm's re-election campaign.

It's a well-oiled machine.

:hi:

[kickysnana]

3. Will we do the same thing over again and expect a different result? n/t

[MissDeeds]

4. Good question n/t

[frazzled]

5. Um, the result was overwhelming success

I'm not sure what you're saying, unless it's sarcasm. The subject here is a reelection campaign. The first time it was based out of Chicago, it resulted in a landslide. To do it over again and get the same thing would be considered a success, right?

[Kolesar]

7. Yes we can! ... eom

[Peregrine Took]

6. Meh. Also double "meh" to his Chief of Staff's run for mayor. n/t

[madrchsod]

8. run? i`d say an anointment.

i don`t see anyone who can defeat him and no big change who ever wins.

[Name removed]

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