David Axelrod: The Humble Genius at Obama's Side

Nice NY Times piece on David Axelrod, a familiar and well-respected figure in these parts for 25 years. He has worked for candidates in Wisconsin races, including with former Gov. Tony Earl. Have never heard a bad word about him. He is now almost always a calming presence on TV, and evidently, in the likely President's life.

Obama Adviser Fills a Role That Exceeds His Title
...As Mr. Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, heads into the final days of his race for the White House, an ever-widening sphere of aides surrounds him. But almost none is as responsible for his current station as Mr. Axelrod, whose title of chief strategist only hints at the extensive role he has played in the senator’s evolution: friend, adviser and confidant, always at the elbow of this candidate.

In many ways, Mr. Axelrod is a classic example of the Washington political consultant (even though he lives in Chicago and says he has no intention of moving to the capital if Mr. Obama wins). He has been making advertisements and offering advice for candidates for mayor, senator and president for a generation, since quitting his job as a newspaper reporter in 1984. He has a particular specialty in helping black candidates appeal to white electorates and has tallied up a list of corporate clients along the way.

But Mr. Axelrod, in this client-consultant relationship, appears to be something different, with a personal investment in Mr. Obama’s success that is obvious in the distress marked on his face whenever the candidate comes under attack.

Every politician has a guardian angel, and every presidential hopeful has a right-hand dispenser of wisdom. Yet in the trio of top strategists around Mr. Obama, including Robert Gibbs, a senior communications adviser, and David Plouffe, the campaign manager, it is Mr. Axelrod who has been at Mr. Obama’s side the longest and has the most interwoven relationship with him.

“Although he is as tough as they come, he’s actually not a mercenary,” said Mr. Obama, of Illinois, in an interview. “He actually believes in what we’re doing, which actually makes him a bad consultant when he doesn’t believe in the candidate. And he’s a great consultant when he believes.”

Oh, Mr. Axelrod believes.