Inside Barack Obama's "War Room"
Katie Couric Goes Behind The Scenes And Talks To The People Behind The Campaign
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Obama: Behind-The-Scenes
Katie Couric takes a behind-the-scenes look at Barack Obama's frenetic presidential campaign and speaks with the key players in his bid to win the presidency.
-
Video
Eye To Eye: Obama's War Room
"Only On The Web": Katie Couric gets a behind-the-scenes look at the nerve center of Barack Obama's campaign and meets the people hard at work to help him win the U.S. presidency.
-
Photo
When a meeting lets out in the Obama campaign office, you might mistake it for a college campus. Many of the staffers are in their early 20s. (CBS)
-
Photo Essay
Barack Obama
A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
-
Photo Essay
Barack Obama
The junior senator from Illinois is making his name known.
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.
Couric said to deputy communications director Dan Pfeiffer: "You look like you're about 12, much like everyone out there."Read Katie Couric's impression of Obama's war room at Couric & Co. blog
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.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Video and Galleries from CBS Evening News
- Latest in CBS Evening News
- Historic Discovery
- Recession Puts Brakes on Holiday Travel
- Most Dangerous Job In The World?
Read Katie Couric's impression of Obama's war room at Couric & Co. blog



- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 177 Commentsoff back too Hawaii ware his pampered A$$ belonges
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by ccfsdca at 10:00 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
Man YOU are ONE scared nazi! ROFLMAO I mean you are everywhere with your predictions or should I say desperation. LOL You are so confident that this man who offers the American People what they say they want, a change in direction, is going to loose. Well I think you are wrong.. I don''t think the Seniors will yet again elect a fascist... knowing the condition of Social Security and Medicare. I don''t think Working people elect another fascist, KNOWING he will do NOTHING about the very Unfair Trade Agreements. I don''t think McCain will even make it interesting because the Democrats have signed up so many new people AND Republican''s outside the Fascist South have abandoned they party. LOOK at the NUMBERS for god''s sake!! You think all those people are showing up to vote because they are happy with McSame and the Republican Party?? ROFLMAO Get real! You are going to have a Black President Sparky.. might as well get the old swastika out and start rubbing it. Sieg Heil Bush!!
.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by trapbreak at 08:08 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report ab
YOU should know!! LOL I''d say he is a very intelligent man and has his guy well on the way to the White House. Just think he did it without Politics as usual and under attack from Hillary and the Reich! Pretty good stuff if you ask me. Sieg Heil Bush...
off back too Hawaii ware his pampered A$$ belonges
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by popstom1 at 10:09 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
You base this on what Swastika Breath?? Now I''ve seen Poll after Poll of the voters in Illinois and I''m here calling you a LIAR! Care to PROVE your point swastika breath?! ROFLMAO This very intelligent Black Man scares the living *** out of you fascist doesn''t he? Sieg Heil Bush!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:11 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Bull! The biggest lie of the century is Obama is above politics as usual! He''s been dirty from day one!
Axelrod has no conscience at all, or else he couldn''t back or conjure up so many Obama lies!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by mariann2269 at 09:04 PM : Apr 24, 2008
LOL Right! That bozo wants MORE to put on his show... the worse it gets in the democratic party the higher his ratings. Obama has it won, there''s no need to strike out at this tired lady who can''t win... no reason at all. He needs to win NC which he will do and he has JUST taken the lead in Indiana.. with those two win''s under his belt, it becomes IMPOSSIBLE for Hillary to win... then he can focus on the general election. Sieg Heil Bush
Axelrod has no conscience at all, or else he couldn''''t back or conjure up so many Obama lies!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:15 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
How is that? Can you show me anything like that? The simple truth is he has NOT done that and continues to NOT do that. By the way the VOTERS agree with me on this issue as well... by a wide margin. You are just opposed to him and mad because your canidate can''t win... come on now be honest!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:18 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Well, no, the voters don''t! Obama has NEVER had the popular vote! Just some marginal wins in districts with mass populations where the greater portion of them don''t even come out and vote!
Obama will never see the White House!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:19 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
LOL I''m afraid YOU are looking at a very old poll. The one that came out today... I think it''s on here, by the AP show''s Obama moving ahead. That''s been the case in EVERY vote.. she starts out ahead by a wide margin and then the drop starts... sometimes she manages to hang on, as was the case in PA... most times she does not.
Obama will never see the White House!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:21 PM : Apr 24, 2008
The ONLY way to can say he doesn''t have the popular vote is to exclude the states that do not use the PRIMARY Vote to pick Deligates AND count Florida where he didn''t campaign and Mich where he wasn''t even on the ballot. GEEZZZZ man you can''t just exclude all those states who do not use primary elections... LOL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:23 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
LOL Guess we''ll just have to wait and see huh??? ROFLMAO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:24 PM : Apr 24, 2008
A vote is a vote and shows support! Not a core democrat or cross-over republican will cast an Obama vote in the general.
All those red states won''t carry him either.
He''ll never see the White House.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by moblou at 10:23 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
She can''t win! The Numbers just are NOT there... she''d have to win ALL the remaining contest AND by a wide margin. Can''t be done.
Well said!
Who wants to CHANGE from Washington politics to corrupt Chicago politics and an anti-American candidate!
Time for Obama to step DOWN!
All those red states won''''t carry him either.
He''''ll never see the White House.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:27 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
Then I guess America DESERVES what it gets then huh? IF they want to vote for someone who is going to do NOTHING about Social Security, Medicare, Health Care, the Debt, an endless war and on and on. If they are so hung up on race and allow themselves to be diverted from the issues, then I will gladly sit you for 4 years and remind them just how stupid that is. Doen''t take away from the fact that HE and SHE agreed that Mich would NOT count and that Florida violated the rules. She can''t win... ain''t possible. The Numbers aren''t there and the votes aren''t there.
Who wants to CHANGE from Washington politics to corrupt Chicago politics and an anti-American candidate!
Time for Obama to step DOWN!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:29 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
Now YOU have posted this VERY insulting LIE and my friend it IS a lie much to often. There was a time, before Harold Washington, when Chicago Politic''s was corrupt, that is NOT the case today and It''s an insult to everyone of us who worked very hard to clean it up.
In response to your comment that you couldn''t understand my comment that OLD man McCain is "hiding behind lil'' Hillary''s apron", here''s what I mean in a nutshell: As long as lil'' woman continues to stay in the race and tear our party apart, OOLD man McCain doesn''t have to experience the steamrolling effects of the Obama shuffle; thus, in essence, he is hiding behind lil'' missy''s apron. Some war hero, huh?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:30 PM : Apr 24, 2008
LOL, Nobody ever said Fla. and Michigan don''t count! And nobody agreed to it either. All they agreed to was not to campaign there!
Obama violated the rules in Michigan and Florida by campaigning and holding press conferences there, that''s why he wouldn''t support a re-vote, because he can''t claim a one of those votes!
The fact is, Hillary has had the popular vote all along!
Time for Obama to step DOWN!
Wonder who these broads would tap as their Secretary of Defense, Jane Fonda? America can do better than this.
Vote smart North Carolina.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:32 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Then why is Chicago being swarmed with frau investigators! And why is Obama having to fight off testifying as to his appointees to a board found swilling government money?
Why is Rezko being investigated for fraud!
Why is the Governor and Mayor Daly being investigated for fraud?
The fact is, Hillary has had the popular vote all along!
Time for Obama to step DOWN!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:33 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
That is JUST not true. SHE signed an agreement on Mich and it''s available if you want to look it up. The DNC put florida off limits and they did not campaign there. Obama nor any of the rest of the canidates were on the ballot in Mich. Regardless you still don''t have the numbers sparky.. DELIGATES nominate and he''s only a few hundred away... she can NOT catch him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:37 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Oh yes they were! Dodd and Kuchinich were on the Michigan ballot, and Obama was on the Florida ballot, and Obama campaigned in Florida and held press conferences! He was so dumb he ripped his name off the ballot and then broke the *** rules!
He''s NEVER had the popular vote! And he needs to step down!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:37 PM : Apr 24, 2008
The DNC knows who can get the votes, and it''s NOT Obama! Why do you think they haven''t made a nomination?
Why is Rezko being investigated for fraud!
Why is the Governor and Mayor Daly being investigated for fraud?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:35 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
LOL You have GOT to keep up sparky! If you are going to trash us you''d better make sure of your attacks. That''s MR ROVE at work sparky... HE tried to fire the Federal Attorney and NO Connection, other than this guy Rezko bought property in Obama''s neighborhood has ever been made. I''d suggest you Obama haters NOT use this one.. you are going to look awlful stupid. By the way the attorney Rove wanted to trash??? The same guy who went after them on the CIA Outing! IF you think THAT guy didn''t fully investigate the issue you are dead wrong. NO connection to the Democrat Party, the Governor NOR Obama. Will that stop you? I doubt it but it''s the facts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:39 PM : Apr 24, 2008
AMEN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:41 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
So YOU think the only reason the superdelates are moving to??? Wait a minute how many has Clinton picked up?? How many has Obama Picked up??? Didn''t he just pick up TWO more yesterday??? LOL They are waiting but are slowly moving to him..
savagepolitics.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:41 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Yeah right! They''ll all so innocent, that''s why the city is SWARMING with fraud investigators! They all wear halo''s.
It''ll soon come out just who bought Obama''s house for him, and it wasn''t Rezko but some total whack job that loaned Rezko the money!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:43 PM : Apr 24, 2008
look at the states nationwide between Obamalamadingdong...and McCain...(McCain wins) now if you look at Hillary and McCain..Hillary has a better chance of winning the general election then Barack....go ahead do the research...you might be surprized.
----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:39 PM : Apr 24, 2008
AMEN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by kstar42 at 10:42 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
Again that is just NOT true... even if you count Florida, it''s just not true. Even if you count Mich and give him the undecided, it''s just not true. IF the states that do not use elections are counted, it''s NOT true. You can''t make it true either.
savagepolitics.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by kstar42 at 10:44 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Please! I do not listen to or associate with NAZI''s! thanks anyway! Sieg Heil Grand Wizard!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:48 PM : Apr 24, 2008
Yeah, it is, she''s been ahead by 39,000 votes since Mississippi! Go add ''em up!
There''s not enough stupid people in American that will fall for barack....except for BLK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:48 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
Yep She started out with a BIG lead and he has overtaken her there as well... LOL YOU made my point. What''s the Delagate count right now??? I know he''s several hundred ahead... can''t remember exactly how many. I know he''s only about 300 away from the magic Number.
Just a matter of days!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:48 PM : Apr 24, 2008
********** look at all the states that have voted....all of them...Obama''s, Hillarys, McCain, see who''s ahead in the voting...not the delegates...Barack can''t win....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by MCVet at 10:51 PM : Apr 24, 2008
It won''t matter, he can''t get enough to go over 2025. It''ll be up to the superdelegates, and they know he can''t win the general!
Wow never knew voting for Hillary would make me a nazi....but since I''m not voting for your Obama...I suppose your gonna call me a racist?
First, hello and how are you? Now off come the gloves. So you dare draw your sword and re-enter the fray, huh? Remember this lady: Obama has managed to capture so called Red States while lil'' missy cannot even seem to remember where she last put her apron--must be the effects of racing around the country pipe dreaming about a woman becoming president, smirk, yeah when donkeys fly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 10:49 PM : Apr 24, 2008
+ report abuse
LOL No need to count them up.. the Delagate count does that for you.. DELAGATES pick the canidate sparky.. the method of sellecting those delagates is up to the STATE Party... You seem to be stuck on the Popular vote and I could understand that IF all states were using that method... they are NOT!!
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 177 Comments