Inside Barack Obama's "War Room"

Katie Couric Goes Behind The Scenes And Talks To The People Behind The Campaign

(CBS)  As the Democratic fight continues, CBS News anchor Katie Couric went behind the scenes to see the campaign that's working feverishly to win the nomination for Barack Obama.

First, there's the candidate. Then there's the strategist behind the candidate ... and the campaign manager who leads a 24/7 political operation with one goal in mind: winning the presidency.

"What's a day in the life of David Axelrod like?" Couric asked David Axelrod, Obama's closest adviser.

"Life is a cascade of phone calls, e-mails, conference calls, meetings, and a lot of travel with Barack," Axelrod said.

"It's kind of a series of rolling conference calls all day long between us and the states, between us and the candidate," said campaign manager David Plouffe.

It's constant conversations that take place between Central Command in Chicago and what's known as the "bubble," an army of traveling press and campaign staffers.

"It's the production of everyone," said director of scheduling and advance Alyssa Mastromonaco.

"What's the most challenging part of doing this?" Couric asked.

"Um, I think the most challenging part is making sure that Barack gets home to see his family," Mastromonaco said.

The speeches Obama gives are crafted by a 26-year-old wordsmith and his equally youthful deputies.

"His voice is kind of in my head when I'm writing," said Speechwriter Jon Favreau. "I just have to make sure it jives with what he wants to say."

The finance department, led by Julianna Smoot, has helped raise a record-breaking $233 million so far.

According to Smoot, the average donation for Obama is $96. And it's even less if you only count online donors.

And then there are the communicators, both on the road and back at home base, who take incoming fire on the phones and over e-mail while making sure the message-of-the-day survives.

"We do our best to return everybody's calls but if we're not calling within the hour, you know, we're probably buried," said deputy press secretary Ben LaBolt.

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Read Katie Couric's impression of Obama's war room at Couric & Co. blog

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Couric said to deputy communications director Dan Pfeiffer: "You look like you're about 12, much like everyone out there."

Pfeiffer laughed, "And I am the oldest one out there. I'm 32."

When a meeting adjourns, it looks like class is out on a college campus. Many staffers are in their early 20s.

What is Pfeiffer's background?

"I worked for Sen. Evan Bayh when he was thinking about running for president," Pfeffer said.

Was he mad that Bayh became a Clinton supporter?

"I respect his decision," Pfeffer said.

And many once worked with Clinton's people. They're friends turned rivals. For campaign operatives, it's all in a days work.

"I worked on Sen. Clinton's senate campaign for senate in 2000," Axelrod said. "She's been very supportive of a cause that's close to me, which is epilepsy research. My daughter has very severe epilepsy and it's sort of been a defining struggle in our family. This was difficult and I had decided not to participate in the presidential race this year but I told everyone the one thing that would change for me is if Barack Obama decided to run for president."

"Because you had such a close association with the Clintons and they have been so helpful, was that a bit uncomfortable?" Couric asked.

"Yes, it's always difficult. That's why I hate primary elections because they are sort of family fights. And you end up having to work against people you care about," Axelrod said.

Even for this seasoned strategist, there have been lessons learned along the way.

"I think we did too much of that kind of iconic, rally-type campaigning," he said. "We've spent a lot more time in diners and, famously, bowling alleys."

And for the campaign manager, there's a silver lining in a battle that's been tougher - and lasted longer - than anyone expected.

And, challenged yet again by this week's Pennsylvania primary, off they go to fight another day.

[obamasgranny]

Obama is weak and it is showing!! This guy loves to give a nice speech that has been written for him, but is afraid to go one on one with Hillary!! He is a little "Girlie-Man" and is starting to lose support because people are not stupid!! People are beginning to see that this guy is weak!! Maybe if he put''s his apron back on and bakes Michelle some of those nice pot brownies, Maybe if he BEGS her,...she might LET him run for president of the local PTA!!?
Weak!!

[prinzowhales]

Behind the carefully crafted rhetoric created for Obama to dispense, stands Ziggy Brzezinski, Michael Lake and Austan Goolsby...Trilateralists, CFRers and Skull & Bones...Lester Crown and his General Dynamics, defense and Israel-first interests. For every thing he says that draws applause, stands a policy that negates the happy talk. These are the forces of constructive change...these are the forces of chaos and war...of pre-emptive wars, Chicago School Economics and Ford Foundation supported racially charged theology.

(Note: It didn''t make CBS that our helicopters that were sent to Israel are ending up in the hands of the drug cartel in Columbia. Just like no one is demanding answers about just what 5.5 tons of cocaine were doing on board a CIA plane tied to both renditions and drug smuggling. You can bet Obama won''t be talking about it--any more than McCAin or Clinton.)

[sueann702]

Favor a One World Government? Think NAFTA is a good idea?
Want to copy the EU with the NAU?
Ok for corporations, lobbiest and the special interest to take over our country and force us into the world economy? Forced medicare and microchips?
Read the Bible, you deserve what''s coming.

[sueann702]

Globalist thugs:
Bush Jr,Sr
Hillary and Bill
McCain

Think about it...in 10 years the American Constitution will be no more. America will have a "For Sale" sign soon to the highest bidder.

Read the Bible, last chapter.

[blkpresident]

libra127,

If you think lil'' Hillary can actually handle the rigors of the presidency just bevcause she got an endorsement from a few generals(more female I see, wonder why?)then you go ahead and waste your vote. How could you ever sleep peaceably in your bed knowing that she stands between you and the terrorist everytime the Red Phone rings? How could America entrust our nation in lil'' missy''s hands? Sadly, Michael Dukakis and Jimmy Carter are stronger on foreign policy than she could ever be. A vote for lil'' Hillary as president is akin to a vote for Jane Fonda.

[guadalcanal3]

War Room???...What the heck does Barack Obama know about a War Room??...I certainly hope that America does not let this man be "Commander In Chief" of our armwed forces.

[libra127]

Why would these brilliant military leaders you shared in your comments entrust our nation in the hands of lil'' missy.

Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 08:19 PM : Apr 25, 2008

Why ? They have given their official endorsement of Hillary because they feel she is the best candidate and fully qualified to be Commander-in-Chief !

It is time for you to seriously re-examine your assumptions about women, BLKPREZ. Hillary is not "soft and weak" on foreign policy as you assume. Learn something about her!

I trust the judgment of these esteemed military leaders a whole lot more than your judgment. And you should too.

Hillary ain''t wearin'' no apron, baking no cakes, nor watching no soccer game. Just because you don''t know no women like her, doesn''t mean she''s not qualified. Better get used to it.

[croft777]

This country is full of corn nuggets, the people of the media, the government, the Obama supporters, the guy sitting at a table in the restaurant in his pressed suit and tie with his business partners of a large company laughing and mocking the skinny waitress running from table to table to keep the customers happy. They are drinking, feeling good, acting like a bunch of teenagers in high school again. I sit quietly and watch, its funny how much wealth and power can turn a human being into a disqusting rat. Ones who don''t know their fate when they eat the poison, poison they created from their own corruption. Those obsessed with themselves and their money has about as much worth as a man wearing shoes without soles running across hot coals.

[blkpresident]

libra127,

Nice try there. Why would these brilliant military leaders you shared in your comments entrust our nation in the hands of lil'' missy. I''m not trying to hear that. Missy''s not an option for Commander-in-Chief. She''s weak and soft on foreign policy and may even tap the likes of Jane Fonda to be Secretary of Defense. America doesn''t need a cake mixing bowl full of cookies and brownies as a foreign policy stance. Terrorist don''t play softball or powder-puff football.

[ken1dall]

How can so many people be SOOOOO stupid!!!!

[libh8er]

Posted by rufisgufis at 01:27 PM : Apr 25, 2008

And Barry Obama will go down in flames in ''08.

[libh8er]

Inside Barack Obama''s "War Room"

I thought Barry was against war. They should change the name to the "Flower Room" or the "Peacenik Room", or something equally limpwristed and benign.

[libra127]

We are at war, so I hope America doesn''t take a chance on her to manage the two wars in a competent manner.

Posted by BLKPRESIDENT at 03:21 PM : Apr 24, 2008

BLKPREZ, the following military flag officers have already endorsed Hillary to manage those two wars:

General Wesley Clark
General John M. Shalikashvili
General Johnnie E. Wilson
Admiral William Owens
Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard
Lt. Gen. Robert Gard
Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy
Lt. Gen. Donald L. Kerrick
Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath
Vice Admiral Joseph A. Sestak
Major General Roger R. Blunt
Major General George A. Buskirk, Jr.
Major General Edward L. Correa, Jr.
Major General Paul D. Eaton
Major General Paul D. Monroe, Jr.
Major General Antonio M. Taguba
Rear Admiral Connie Mariano
Rear Admiral Alan M. Steinman
Rear Admiral David Stone
Brigadier General Michael Dunn
Brigadier General Belisario Flores
Brigadier General Evelyn "Pat" Foote
Brigadier General Keith H. Kerr
Brigadier General Virgil A. Richard
Brigadier General Preston Taylor
Brigadier General John M. Watkins, Jr.
Brigadier General Jack Yeager

[rufisgufis]

Obama is leading in number of delegates won;

Obama is leading in number of states won;

Obama is leading in number of popular votes won;

Obama is leading in the number of caucuses won:

Obama is leading in every demographic;

Clinton is leading in number of lies told.

FIGURES DON''T LIE BUT LIARS CAN FIGURE

OBAMA 08

[bfjones666]

The fact that the Republican party is trying to get Clinton nominated tells you exactly what the truth is about who they would rather face in a general election. McCain would have a field day running against Clinton, making the election about homeland security and who can be the biggest hawk. Since the country wants change, McCain would be unable to beat Obama as the change candidate. McCain s no change at all.

[blkpresident]

Hillary-Steinem ''08?

Wonder who these two broads would tap as Secretary of Defense, Jane Fonda?

Protect America North Carolina and send this lil'' missy home to preside over her kitchen stove in NY. America needs a strong foreign policy, not a weak and soft one shaped from a cake mixing bowl in the White House kitchen.

[robrob791]

"JUST BE CAUTIOUS WHEN VOTING" Vote in the best interest of the USA, not some good talker with no substance.

[janiet3]

Here''s what Mr/Ms Important said: To: BLACKSPIRIT3 "white people won''''t vote for Obama because he''''s black", ***... they would vote for Rice or Powell in a heartbeat.


Well, this white person will vote for Obama and might consider voting for Powell were he actually running for something, which he isn''t, if he were not on some Repub ticket. But, Condolleezza? No way, no how, not today, not ever !! A bush worshipping, oh enough!!

[janiet3]

I wish I knew how many on these boards are actually Repugs in disguise (vehemence notwithstanding) promoting Hillary, and trying so tenaciously to discredit Senator Obama, knowing full well there is simply no amount of propaganda that could elect Grandpa McCoy in either instance. It would be quite enlightening to have that information, would it not?

[important3]

To: BLACKSPIRIT3 "white people won''t vote for Obama because he''s black", ***... they would vote for Rice or Powell in a heartbeat. Black people finally are coming around that the only reason you''re voting for Obama is because he''s black, you''re just plain sore loser''s. Hey you kids Obama staffers, how about releasing atleast cities, states and if there''s countries of Obama''s donors... all of them???