Obama's Inner Circle Shares Inside Story

60 Minutes' Steve Kroft Debriefs President-Elect's Top Advisors After The Chicago Victory Speech

(CBS)  When Barack Obama began thinking of running for president two years ago, he turned to a small inner circle of political advisors from his 2004 Senate campaign. Like Obama, they were talented, laid back and idealistic with limited exposure on the national stage.

But with the candidate's help, they orchestrated what some consider one of the most improbable and effective campaigns in American political history. They took a little-known senator with a foreign sounding name and almost no national experience and got him elected as the 44th president of the United States. They did it by recruiting and vesting millions of volunteers in the outcome, by raising more money than any campaign in history, and by largely ignoring that their candidate happed to be a black man.

---

When President-elect Obama gave his victory speech Tuesday night in Chicago's Grant Park, he was quick to give credit. "To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics,” the president-Elect said, “You made this happen.”

Who was Obama talking about and how did they do it? Ninety minutes after the speech ended, 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft sat down with them in a Chicago hotel suite. It was 1.a.m. Wednesday and the reality of it all was just beginning to sink in.

"We just left Grant Park. What are you feeling'?" Kroft asked.

"Little numb. A little tired. A little overwhelmed," David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist and political alter ego, replied.

The group also included David Plouffe, the camera shy campaign manager and field general who made it all happen. "Yeah. I mean, it's been a 22-month road, and a lotta twists and turns. But you know, I think he filled the stage tonight," Plouffe told Kroft.

There was senior aide Robert Gibbs, who was always at Obama's side, his former and future press secretary. "And it was fun to watch all the people come out who've been part of the campaign. And…," Gibbs rasped, clearing his throat.

He told Kroft he lost his voice "within the last few hours."

And finally Anita Dunn, a relative newcomer who handled communications, research and policy.

The only person missing from the brain trust was the candidate himself.

How big a role did he play in this campaign?

"Well, no one had a bigger role, you know. The great thing about our campaign was we didn't have a lotta discussion about what our message was or what he wanted to do," Plouffe said. "From the beginning, he knew exactly what he wanted to say. And it's one of the reasons we were successful. A lotta campaigns will spend hours every day wondering about how to change their message. And he was pretty clear about what he wanted to say, where he wanted to take the country, and either people would accept it or they wouldn't."

It began 22 months ago on a frigid day in Springfield, Ill., almost it seemed on an impulse. There was no money and no real organization - only a vast untapped reservoir of disaffected voters and potential volunteers.

"This campaign can't only be about me. It must be about us. It must be about what we can do together," Sen. Obama said in the February 2007 Springfield speech.

Axelrod recalled, "When we started the campaign, we met around a table like this. And there was just a handful of us. You know, we started with nothing. And Barack said to us, 'I want this to be a grassroots campaign. I wanna reinvigorate our democracy. First of all I think that’s the only way we can win and secondly I want to rekindle some idealism that together we can get things done in this country,"

Asked if they seriously thought Obama had a shot, Plouffe told Kroft, "We thought he had a shot. I actually think we knew what big underdogs we were. And he got into this in a very unusual way. Most people plan this from years. They spend a lotta time in Iowa and New Hampshire planning for it. We got into this very unconventionally."

"We planned for days days…," Axelrod joked.

"For days," Plouffe replied, laughing. "And in many respects, that made it challenging. But I think we were better for it. Because we were more agile. We were not afraid to take risks. And we didn't have the stifling pressure of expectations."

"My fundamental concern for him wasn't whether he had the capacity, 'cause I think he's the smartest guy that I've ever worked with or known," Axelrod said.

"But it was whether he had that pathological drive to be president. You know, so often, what defines presidential candidates is this need to be president, to define themselves. He didn't have that. And, you know, we told him, 'You're gonna have to find some other way to motivate yourself.' And he did, which was what he could do as president."

[sincity_q]

"Aides: We Didn''t Obsess About Obama''s Race"

Breaking News: No one obsessed about race except for the media... and a few Obama followers who insisted that anyone who didn''t vote for him was a racist.

Geez, (to the media) get a grip on America for a change, huh? I didn''t vote for the Dem Messiah but I am more than willing to give him the benefit of a doubt... a chance to do it right. If he does, I may vote for him in 2012. If not, it will be someone else and not an ounce of it will be about race, gender or party.

[paulstewart9]

Yup.

[rudy6543]

I see that the racists will be as nasty as ever. But one good thing I have learned is that there are more people who are not racist than there are of those who are. I thought that with a good percentage of racists posting regularly here on CBS that somehow that reflected how America really was. I am so glad to learn that I was wrong and that the racist Limbaughites and Hannitees are just a bunch of lazy, backward loud mouths who contribute nothing to society. They don''t even have regular jobs.

[frankistage]

"...Is he really 50% Caucasian from his mother''''s side,43.75% Arabic, and 6.25% African Negro from his father''''s side?...." Where''d the Arabic part come from? His father is pure Kenyan.

[missrunner]

What year is this??????????? Does it really matter?????

[demdump]

BOSTON - President-elect Obama''s aunt intends to fight a deportation order and remain in the United States, her immigration lawyer said Friday.

The Associated Press found that Zeituni Onyango, 56, is staying with relatives in Cleveland after fleeing her public housing apartment in Boston. She had been living there five years.

[tx4obama]

I voted for him not because of his race, but because of what he stands for.

I believe majority of people who did not vote for him are racist. Just look at the people at McCain''s rallies, the only color you could find was white.

The crowd at Obama''s rallies? It''s a beautiful rainbow of different colors: black, white, yellow, light brown and dark chocolate.

Obviously, this country is not made with just white race and that was why McCain lost.

Shame to the people who voted for Hillary, a Democrate, but would not vote for another Democrate, Barack Obama, just because of his skin color.

Don''t we all have the same color of blood beneath our skin? Aren''t we all children of the same God?

God Bless our country and may God Bless our newest president, Barack Obama.

[besscannon-2009]

What is all this about us electing an African American? That is NOT so!! We elected a biracial, half black, half white. Let''s tell it like it is not like some want to fantasize it as.

[stloubill]

What is all this about us electing an African American? That is NOT so!! We elected a biracial, half black, half white. Let''''s tell it like it is not like some want to fantasize it as.
Posted by Besscannon

His father was African. His mother was American.
Hence, African-American. Don''t know why your so confused.

[vincan-2009]

I never cared about Senator Obama being black. I didn''t vote for just a black person or just a white person, I voted for the best candidate. That is why I voted for Senator Obama in the primary here in Louisiana, although I am a very very pale white woman. I believe he is the man for the job of president, and I believe that America needs this fine man to help us after the eight years of betrayal by our current republican administration and republican rubber stamping legislators. I am so thankful that we now have President Obama. He is smart and we need smart right now more than ever.

[dan400man]

TX4Obama: "I believe majority of people who did not vote for him are racist. Just look at the people at McCain''s rallies, the only color you could find was white."

Dolt. Yes, we couldn''t have possibly have used our brains and not voted for Obama. There are some of us who don''t care for a man who voted to protect infanticide in the state of Illinois to become the leader of the free world, and whose running mate declared that our enemies would take advantage of an Obama presidency. Yeah, I''m racist. Yeah, I can''t use my brain. Yeah, McCain had zero qualities to be president, even though Obama has no foreign policy experience.

So, let me turn it around. The only reason you voted for Obama was because he was black.

[wtf1999]

My post-election observations: The white people that voted for Obama did so because they admired his character, intelligence, and agreed with his policies to fix this country.

The media reported 94 percent of black people voted for Obama, and many did so mainly because of the color of Obama''s skin.

It amazes me the number of black people that cannot tell you anything about Obama''s policies. They have absolutely no idea! Complete ignorance!

There seems to be a consensus though with the black folks believing they''re getting some imaginary lottery check in the mail soon after Obama is sworn into the presidential office. I can only hope these folks aren''t making retirement plans just yet.

[talk2kim67]

Okay...for the last freakin'' time...the guy is not the first black president. He is the first half white president. I don''t care if his father was from Africa..you can''t claim an entire continent! He''s a Kenyan American...just like German Americans or Irish Americans.

[zukatesta]

***: you leave out some very important points:

1. Blacks also supported John Kerry to the tune of 88%, and Gore 90%, which means Obama received just a little more support than his preceding democrats

2. Obama received 4 points more support than Kerry and Gore overall, so receiving +6 or 4 from any one demographic is well within the realm of expectations

A very good argument can be made that Obama received NO additional support from the black community, above what any other democrat would''ve received.

[cpelzar--2008]

Newsweek%u2019s Evan Thomas and Jon Meacham shared a bizarre Obama love-fest session with Charlie Rose on the PBS host%u2019s program on Wednesday. Meacham stated that he was "very struck watching the stagecraft" of Obama and pointed out how Obama gave his victory speech by himself: "...[H]ave you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage? No adoring wife, no cute kid -- he is the message." Thomas went one step further in this vein: "There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all of this." Rose confronted him on his use of this phrase, and he explained that it made him "a little uneasy that he''s so singular. He''s clearly managing his own spectacle. He knows how to do it. He''s a -- I think, a deeply manipulative guy..." Later, all three marveled about how it was "amazing" that Obama "watches us watching him."

Thomas and Meacham appeared during the second segment of Rose%u2019s program on Wednesday night. The host first asked Thomas about how Obama seemed to be "always in charge of this campaign." After giving an anecdote about a meeting in which Obama discussed his vice presidential pick with his advisers, Thomas commented that Obama is very inclusive, yet very self-contained. It''s an unusual leadership style."

[Hybdiesel]

Here is why I voted for Obama. He did not have the stinking word republican, by his name on the ballot. I did not notice if black or white was on there. I guess I am racist because there is blacks I do not care for, Jessie and Sharptongue are two that come to mind.

[zaniacloclo]

So this man is a great community organizer, he is also a great manipulator.Is it possible for him to manipulate the financial markets of a democracy and other foreign countries the way he just manipulated the majority of Americans.
I saw an old guy at a pharmacy yesterday getting a prescription filled and the attendant asked him if he had insurance, the old man replied I don''t, but now that Obama is my president I will get it soon so maybe I should come back to get my prescription filled as soon as I get my insurace... The attendant looked at him and said sir don''t you need your medicines now..

[wtf1999]

zukatesta,
Who cares anymore about John Kerry or Al Gore''s presidential bids.

Besides, I''m having more fun irritating jollyf. I should charge myself an entertainment fee.

[blackyowe]

So glad to see the bitter creepy conservatives are still here howling at the moon.

[ghwthrn]

I think it is funny how many people are scared of Obama because "he thinks for himself", "he is in charge", "he looks so singular", etc. etc. etc.
And then they say "will he manipulate America and global policy the way he manipulated the voters???"

What would you rather have? A brilliant man who IS capable of standing alone, who doesn''t need a team of ''experts'' to feed him coherent sentences or a mindless puppet?

The reality is, yes Obama may manipulate, heck, he may fail to deliver, but I''d rather know it is him that is in charge, then have it be an empty suit that is controlled by a secret, hidden group of string pullers.

[worldview47]

HALF BLACK HALF WHITE, LITE SKIN, DARKER SKIN, STILL CONSIDERED BLACK, BY ANY MEASURE KNOWN TO US. HISTORIC YES....BEST OF THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR THE JOB YES...AT LEAST THAT WAS WHAT PEOPLE VOTED FOR. ENUFF...INTELLIGENCE,IDEAS EVIDENT....THE REST OF THIS IS ***...

[ghwthrn]

ummm... I suspect that you can thank racist white Americans (I''m not saying that all white Americans are racist...) for categorically lumping anyone that doesn''t look like them into the "Black" domain.
So now all of the sudden that Obama is president he is now "half white"??? Give me a freakin break.
That sounds like classic Rush Limbaugh drivle.

I can just hear Limbaugh saying (between pill pops), "For the last time people... Let me say it very slowly for those of you on the Left Coast, HE IS NOT BLACK...HE IS HALF WHITE"

You know, my nephew is 1/2 white, 1/4 asian, and 1/4 black. And no matter what he does or what he says, he will always be considered black... and by all the racists he will always be a Ni**er...
Any time he has to state his race on a form he is forced to select either "decline to state" or "African American".

I hope I live to see the day when this great nation is truly color blind and gender blind.

[wtf1999]

ghwthrn,

What entity is "forcing" your nephew to state his race as either "decline to state" or "African American"?

Since he''s a mixture of white, asian, and black, he can choose whatever suits him. There are no guidelines for multi-ethnics when race choices are limited, so he may as well have fun with it and alternate his selections each time the situation comes up. That''s what I''ve always done.

In the end, who is actually going to question his choice and force him to change it? No one!

[andor3]

"So glad to see the bitter creepy conservatives are still here howling at the moon. "

Something they loved has died, so there will be denial, anger, bargaining... and finally acceptance and most of them will get on board and help us work with Pres. Obama to fix this mess. We need everyone, but they gotta mourn and howl a while.

[just_me47]

I''m a white non-Christian female, older than 35, and I proudly voted for Obama. It had nothing to do with race. It was all about his plan for our economy and the war, and his family values. Frankly, he could have been purple with yellow polka dots, and I still would have voted for him.

[guest173]

idea of America as a melting pot is one reason some can be colorblind, thank goodness. I am mixed of 2 races and I see both of my parents making racist remarks of each others race subtly and not subtly a lot, since I''ve seen that all my life but grew up in American schools, race isn''t that big a deal, it is usually just bullies that make a thing about it, and unfortunate things like KKK and the Holocost (sp?). I am glad America represents a melting pot, but often the practice hasn''t lived up to the promise as Will Smith said this past week.

[bailmeout1]

I hope I live to see the day when this great nation is truly color blind and gender blind.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by ghwthrn at 11:46 PM : Nov 07, 2008

I think you are already there. Why do people even listen to the media and to the few, both black and white, that try to stir things up. Obama is an extremely intellegent individual, and although I am a conservative, I can state that he is undoubtedly qualified as President. As far as Whites being a problem, this election proves that is not so. Obama is actually the very first ever qualified Black man to run for President and America pushed him in by a landslide. The ''leaders'' of Black America have to this day been Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton. Those two are jokes and did not succeed when they ran. It wasn''t because they were black. There are plenty other rising stars within the Black political scene, such as Jesse Jackson Jr - there is one bright kid. Blacks need to see that the likes of Sharpton and Jackson Sr are their problem, not the whites. The empires of both of those two fall apart the minute Black plight improves. The same thing for this Wright guy, he would have to find a new job if things were just fine and dandy in the Black community.

[alphaa10000]

Obama campaign manager, David Plouffe, said, "It was a moment of real leadership. I think when he gave that race speech in Philadelphia, people saw a president-- out of the ashes really, he rose as the candidate..."
---

Obama''s ability to follow a public dialogue as it develops in the media is a priceless asset for any leader. Axelrod had it best-- race was a specific fascination of the MSM, and Obama had to address the media patiently, carefully, almost as though it were a very slow learner.

Not surprisingly, the MSM, itself, has a very awkward record in this campaign. One of the understood functions of media is interpretation, but that presumes a great deal of understanding-- maybe too much. Media spokesmen often lag well behind the spectacle they describe.

Despite media attention to race, was it ever the most relevant aspect of the Obama candidacy? Obama brings so many novel aspects to the American political forum, race becomes almost an afterthought.

Obama is intelligent and educated, yes, but his signature is great personal struggle and triumph over challenges that would have taken out many others. Obama is the triumphant synthesis of what America is, today.

As many in the MSM finally understand, they have much work ahead of them, merely to keep up.

[perk235]

We have bankrupted our country''s economy and values by trying to retain privilege and control women.

We suppress segments of our society instead of building a vibrant workforce so that the very very few, Fuld et al, for example, can have so very very much.

The genomes of what we call a "race" vary more within a race than between races. So genotypically, race does not exist.

We are the human race.

[grhass]

In all these great historic moments for our country, I do believe this is first time a President-elect has had to apologize to a former first lady, following his first historic and spell binding press conference.

[irmcvet97]

Something they loved has died, so there will be denial, anger, bargaining... and finally acceptance and most of them will get on board and help us work with Pres. Obama to fix this mess. We need everyone, but they gotta mourn and howl a while.

Posted by andor3 at 01:20 AM : Nov 08, 2008


LOL You are correct but it will fade with time.

[blitzder]

I have brown skin and black hair but am a pure caucasian from the Indian Sub Continent and when I travelled the US, from California to New York, it was amazing how many so called ''Whites'' considered me to be black. I had no cultural connection to blacks nor did I understand their racial history in America, but I was truly disapointed at the treatment I got from racist whites in restaurants, shopping centers etc.

There was a college in the heart of Los Angeles, where I had gone to apply for undergraduate admission, but the abhorent nasty reception I got there will always mar my viewa about America,(the admissions recptionist all but chased me out of the grounds). While being new in the US and with an idealistic awe I had about the countries scientific achievments. Granted many Americans I met were friendly as well, but the humiliation I felt in applying for a chance to higher education gave a some idea as to how blacks ended up at the lower end of the financial spectrum.

[cricketmk3]

"I hope I live to see the day when this great nation is truly color blind and gender blind"

ghwthrn, that will never happen as long as people carry the same opinion that you do. It''s not just white Americans that are racist...blacks and other races (I''m not saying all of them) are just as racist as some white people can be. Let''s realize that EVERY race is capable of having racist attitudes...maybe unknowingly...and EVERY race has to readjust their thinking in order to achieve a color and gender blind America. If black people are proud of the election of Obama as president because of his acheivement as a bi-racial candidate, that''s wonderful...but if they are so eleated about his election because they think he will change things to benefit only them, then they are sadly mistaken because he has never said that. He is for EVERY American of EVERY color and that is what won him the presidential election as a bi-racial candidate. The Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world would never have won a presidential election because they were all about making things better for only one race. I think the fact that Obama is both black and white makes a profound statement and I wish him...us...the best of luck as the leader of our country!!

[cricketmk3]

blitzder, haven''t you heard? It''s only southern rednecks that are racist...NOT!

[qutlaw104]

I think the Dnc played more on race than the GOP. You people talk about the whites being color blind, blacks voted on color more than the whites. Obama has set the racial issue back ten years,

[be_real]

Obama needs a vacation, he looked beat-up and tired at his press conference.

[bill_in_va]

sincity_q sounds like the only none racist and "Rational" poster here this morning. Get over yourselves, Mr. Obama got 53% of the vote nationally, dont disinfanchise the other 47% of voters with your victory glouting and hatred for everything not "you".

[armydog2]

Race in my mind was never an issue, that is not to say that many friends of mine saw only his race. But when it came down to their votes the majority of them voted on the issues they voted for Obama and against the republican mantra of fear and hatred, they saw that he was an intelligent, well poised man with a cool demeanor that is more presidential than the mccain/palin rants and raves. They saw past the color of his skin and voted for the man''s merit and worth. And that to me made this such an amazing victory for him. The color of a man''s skin does not matter in this Country anymore, a man''s merit and integrity means more and that is HISTORIC and about time! I have always been Proud of my Country and today I couldn''t be Prouder.Any racial issues of the past have been set to rest and amen to that. "Yes we can"

[bill_in_va]

limaur - Thank you for furthering my point, with your insistance that the other 47% voted against race.

[ybotheratall]

Obama is not African-American. He is half-white. If he were African-American, no matter what race, he would have been born in Africa, came here, became a citizen and would therefore be unable to run for president. He is not the "First African-American" anything. You all make fools out of yourselves saying it over and over. Obama must be a racist denying his white heritage.

[bill_in_va]

The most important issue in America today is the media. Most Americans yo-yo with the media. The media runs a story about say "Somalia" and the the horrible social injustices and asks why do we stand idly by. We get involved, the media shifts gears, rushes in, and criticizes every effort, says "why are we there". Iraq - ". America elects an African-amrican president, his campaign says it wasn''t about race. Tomorrows Headline - "Most Americans beleive race ''was'' an issue.

Don''t let media hype sway the way you think, the economy was doing fine for 6 years under Bush. Media says there''s no story there, someone yell "fire" in the "Wall Street" theater and see if we can start a stampede out of the market.

[ramaci]

Obama won because he was able to create and manage the largest community organization in the history of American politics. The tentacles of his organization are spread wide and deep through out the nation. What will be interesting will be what he will do with this organization. He will need it again in three years. He need to have another community organizer taken stewardship and keep the volunteers and supporters engaged especially when moving forward with his new policies and laws.

[bill_in_va]

ainttaken - Another hate filled voice from the left.

[bill_in_va]

Would be nice to read a story without the labels attached, wouldn''t it. "America elects first bright young man with fresh ideas"

The labels make it sound as if a person is somehow not true american. I have never quailified my status with any label other than american. I am not african-american, jewish-american, hispanic-american....etc.

[srj151]

Above I see another hate filled half brained (Limbaugh named you all) spoke. Oh no don''t give him a chance. You wonder why you lost so badly, remember how you salivated after each Wright commercial? Another young voter looked at it and just shook his or her head.

[xlib]

Why would they when most Americans are "MUTTS". After all, they let the msm carry the dirty water for them.
650million to buy the WH and 80million from moveon.org.
Loved the tough questions the media brown noses asked the chosen one at his first ever president-elect news conference. With all the "crisis" facing us, all the angst and what question is number 3 during this HISTORIC event-WHAT KIND OF PUPPY ARE YOU GETTING!!!

SWEET!

[xlib]

iwashungry68-soring unemployment-seems to me I remember that until the past two years unemployment was below 5%. Not until you dems took control did the economy start to tank. But of course most dem politicans like frank, raines, gorelick, the chosen one, raines, johnson, schumer wouldn''t realize that. After all, fannie and freddie were just fine, weren''t they.]
See, from the onset your media beat the bad economy drum for Bush''s entire tenure. Even when postive gnp reports and jobs creation was reported it always came with "surprisingly better". Bush inherited a recession from bubba, then 9/11, but hey, you people don''t care about that do you. This lates mess came via the dems. FAnnie and freddie are rest homes for old dem cronies like gorelick who made a mint.
The info can be found until your side attempts to silence the right. We know it''s coming. Your side will attempt to shut down any consevative voice. Think about it before you cheer "yea shut them up".Is that the kind of country you people want?? Perhaps you do, after all, supposedly good people in Germany allowed it to happen.

[closethippy1]

I hope PBS will make a documentary about how Obama won. It''s truly exciting to hear how Obama and his aides managed his campaign and overcame every obstacle in their way.

[bill_in_va]

IWasHungry68 - look at hte market trend from 2000-2006 the markets continuously rose, housing appreciated by more than 150% - it was the last 2 years when things began crashing down. Is it coincidence that the Democrats took charge of the house and senate 2 years ago? Don''t get me wrong, the republicans did nothing to help, but dems are not the great saviors many would have you believe, find some middle ground and work together, stop hating.

[closethippy1]

How I envy Mr. Obama. He''s going to be in a position to coordinate the best minds in the country to clean up the mess we are in, and come up with the best solutions for the miriad of crises facing the US. And he''s going to see how one by one gets resolved. Humanity is now more than ever before armed with the most comprehensive knowledge of history and what the most efficient ideas are to solve our problems, regardless of the taboos associated with them.
It''s going to be a pleasure to witness how our conciousness will reach a higher ground, a maturity never before seen, an all inclusive wisdom, that will propel us into a world we could only dream of.To quote from the song Time And A Word by the group YES:"There''s a time and the time is now and it''s right for me, it''s right for me, and the time is now. There''s a word and the word is love and it''s right for me, it''s right for me, and the word is love."