When Obama signed up star media strategist Axelrod to work on his long-shot Senate campaign, the dynamics of the race changed. Obama caught some breaks and emerged as a top contender, leaning heavily on Axelrod, whose client list included Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill. Axelrod, 54, knows the state's politics inside out, having covered the beat as a reporter with the Chicago Tribune. "Ax," as his nickname implies, can be tough and cutting in a campaign. A New York City native and University of Chicago graduate, Axelrod left the newspaper to work on then-Rep. Paul Simon's successful Senate race in 1984 and went on to open his own political consulting firm. The oft-disheveled Axelrod is extremely close to Obama, has a broad portfolio of interests, and shares the president's passion for sports. "He's one of the guys you want to have the ball when the clock is ticking down the last few seconds," said Erik Smith, a political consultant who worked on Obama's campaign. "He is unaffected by all the stuff going on around him."
| Is a Lawyer | |
| Has a PhD | |
| Has Worked in Congress | |
| Has State or Local Experience | |
| Has Lobbied | |
| Has Worked at a Think Tank or in Academia | |
| Has Military Experience | |
| Has Worked as a Business Executive |
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| Has Held Elective Office | |
| Undergraduate Alma Mater | Univerity of Chicago |
| Graduate Alma Mater |
Established: 1789
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500
Phone: 202-456-1414
Website: www.whitehouse.gov
Functions: The Office of the President provides advice and administrative support to the president.
