Obama campaign staffer dies at headquarters

President Barack Obama calls on Congress to pass a temporary, one-year extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for people who make less than $250,000 a year, during a statement in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 9, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Susan Walsh

(CBS/AP) An Obama campaign staffer died Friday after collapsing at the campaign's Chicago headquarters, campaign officials said.

Alex Okrent, 29, worked in the campaign's paid media department, which handles advertising.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that paramedics treated Okrent at the campaign headquarters and then took him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Obama's campaign said the president called Okrent's parents to offer his condolences.

Okrent was a field organizer on Obama's 2004 Senate campaign and then worked on Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. The president later spoke with other campaign staffers in a conference call to offer his condolences.

Jeremy Bird, the campaign's national field director wrote on Twitter: "We will miss you, Alex. you left a beautiful legacy. We will never forget your spirit or your passion. Rest in peace, brother."

Mr. Obama's Republican rival also sent a message via Twitter expressing sympathy. "Ann & I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alex Okrent. Prayers are with Alex's loved ones and the entire Obama campaign team."

Obama campaign senior adviser David Axelrod thanked Romney on Twitter and said that Okrent was a "beloved member of our team. It's been a very emotional day."

[julesarcher1]

by credibility2 July 14, 2012 11:37 AM EDT
...I was just thinking the same thing about the elderly woman who died after being hugged by the president...I hope all of his campaign staffers and volunteers get medical check-ups to make sure they can stand their excitement over the president...


Maybe Obama should embrace the Republican ideas more.

[Molly-Pchr]

Was he ill? Everyone is saddened, etc., but he was only 29, and I haven't read where anyone was shocked or surprised. Sad.

[Lerianis6]

Eh.... they might have known that he had an illness or some congenital defect that made it more likely that he would die.

[nohater]

dropping dead at 29. who expects that to happen?

[hypnotoad72]

Technically, any thing can happen to any one at any time. Or anything can happen to anyone at any time.

The article, despite its length, lacks details.

Still, I'm sure someone will make a snide comment for a cheap thrill...

[jgnv]

No one, which makes it all the more tragic. The fact that this young man was totally committed to the Obama campaign shouldn't be platform for commentors to post such unkind remarks.

[arkajun-2009]

People around Obamarama are starting to drop dead....got to wonder

[Ben37221]

Rest in peace.

[smartalecq]

what's your point?

[matt6052]

Last week an Obama supporter died of a heart attack hours after the president visited her business.

[tigrissupinus]

Are you insinuating that Obama is some sort of vampire?

[credibility2]

...I was just thinking the same thing about the elderly woman who died after being hugged by the president...I hope all of his campaign staffers and volunteers get medical check-ups to make sure they can stand their excitement over the president...