"The Man behind Obama's Message" LATimes

[angie_love]

Interesting read.

"The burly 52-year-old with the drooping mustache helped put together the team working to get Obama elected. He oversees ad creation and coordinates with the campaign's pollsters. During preparation for debates, he plays Clinton.

When not at Obama's side on the campaign trail, he is most often in front of a television camera or otherwise surrounded by reporters, talking about the man he calls "my friend." Asked point-blank what he does all day, he recently responded: "Schmooze."

Axelrod is described as Obama's answer to Karl Rove and the most powerful political consultant not on a coast. And at a time when New York Sen. Clinton is shaking up her own campaign staff, he is someone, said one political observer, who "ain't going to be fired."

On Super Tuesday -- arguably the most critical day of Obama's yearlong journey, with 22 states up for grabs -- Axelrod was a mix of sweet nostalgia and sharp elbows.

9:30 p.m. CST: "I got into politics because I believe in idealism. Just to be a part of this effort that seems to be rekindling the kind of idealism that I knew when I was a kid, it's a great thing to do. So I find myself getting very emotional about it."




http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-axelrod15feb15,0,610634.story

[psychopomp]

1. Thanks for the reference

Some interesting snippits:


The 52-year old Axelrod said: "I got into politics because I believe in idealism. Just to be a part of this effort that seems to be rekindling the kind of idealism that I knew when I was a kid, it's a great thing to do. So I find myself getting very emotional about it."

/snip

Axelrod does take credit for the speech Obama delivered in 2006 at the Gridiron Club dinner, an annual send-up of politics and journalism by the very people who make that world run.

Standing not far from Dick Cheney -- who had accidentally shot a lawyer friend on a hunting trip -- Obama told the vice president, "I know you came here expecting to be a target, which, it turns out, may prove easier for you than shooting at one."

Then he thanked the Democratic nemesis, saying: "For years we Democrats have succeeded in doing little more than shooting ourselves in the foot. You taught us a valuable lesson: Aim higher."

:D

[goclark]

3. Thanks a lot!

[saltpoint]

2. This is a very good read. Thanks for posting.

[riverwalker]

4. wow great article

The more I learn about the people around Barack, the more firm and loyal my support becomes. Axelrod is brilliant,not in a Karl Rovian way, but in having the wisdom to know idealsim is not a dirty word, and recognising what Barack was very early on.
I did not know that about Axelrod's daughter, very insightful, thank you for posting.
Axelrod is so quiet, humble and soft spoken whenever I see him on T.V. He reminds me of a tiger, they are pretty quiet too, but I sure wouldn't equate that with being meek. ;)

[angie_love]

8. you're welcome!

This article makes me feel good about them, a stark contrast to the chaos we've read about on the other team.

[NoBorders]

5. Worked on Edwards' 04 campaign

and on 5 of the 8 Dem nominees this year.

Interestin stuff.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Those ties run very deep

Axelrod covered politics for the Tribune during Harold Washington's tenure in Chicago, which is exactly when Obama was getting started there as a community organizer.

[Indenturedebtor]

7. Thanks good read

The few times I've seen him speak during the campaign he also seems sincere as does Obama.

And he's clearly VERY good at his job :D