Politics

Obama campaign staffer dies at headquarters

July 13, 2012 / 8:59 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Obama lags behind Romney in fundraising — 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."

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