Obama's Inner Circle Shares Inside Story

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

(CBS)  Asked how they won states like North Carolina and Indiana, Plouffe told Kroft, "Well, first of all, we believed we could. I mean, I think part of it is not being afraid to venture out and try win in what has been considered hostile territory. But we also had these volunteers. And without them, the idea of winning North Carolina and Indiana would be a bridge too far. And our campaign was the art of the possible because of these millions of people out there. You know, if we decided we wanted to go register 500,000 people in a state, we could because of them."

That is exactly what they did in North Carolina, where race did matter when it came to registering huge numbers of minority voters. Plouffe called it growing the electorate, and it changed the political map. In Indiana, the number of Obama field offices, staffed mostly by volunteers, outnumbered the McCain campaign 44 to none.

They used Internet sites like Facebook and Twitter to engage young voters. They canvassed neighborhoods street by street, identifying supporters and entering the information into a central database. It helped them determine who had voted early and who might need a ride to the polls on Election Day.

"I mean, our field operations and our targeting and all of that stuff was done with a level of sophistication that exceeded anything that had been done before," Axelrod said. "It was a marvel to watch. The bells and whistles that people are kind of shaking their heads at in wonderment were a direct result of David Plouffe."

"We've all worked in campaigns a lot and volunteerism in politics is a dying thing. And to see this many people getting involved, giving $25, manning phone banks, becoming neighborhood team captains, you know, hasn't been seen in a very long time. And I hope that that is the legacy of this campaign," Plouffe said.

"You ran an incredibly effective and disciplined campaign. Maybe the most effective, I mean, certainly one of the most effective presidential campaigns that's ever been run. There's no in-fighting. No real leaks. Almost no turnover. How did you manage that? Even the Republicans were in awe. Even your opponents couldn't believe it. How did you manage it?" Kroft asked.

"Well, it starts with the candidate. He is someone who his motto is 'no drama.' That doesn't mean that we don't express opinions strongly, but that we're all a unit. And once we make a decision, we stick with it. We don't revisit it. He stays very calm, doesn't get too high, doesn't get too low. Treats people well. So when the leader is setting that example everyone follows," Plouffe said.

"We believed in him, and we believed in the cause. And we believed in each other. And by the end of this thing, over two years, you forge relationships. And we're like a family," Axelrod said. "I mean, the hardest thing about this is that it's ended now. I said it's like the end of the movie M*A*S*H. You know, the war's over. We're all going home. And we wanna go home. But, on the other hand, it's sort of a bit of melancholy because we've come to love each other and believe in each other. And we know that this will never be the same that we went through this experience and it was a singular experience and it'll never be the same."

---

It may not be the same and not all of them are going home: after the interview, David Axlerod was named a senior advisor to President-elect Obama and will be joining him in the White House along with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

[joule18]

This is potentially the greatest threat our country is now facing. There is over one trillion dollars a year generated in profits in Islamic Shariah Law governed countries from oil. Much has been coming to Wall Street and now that our country is in desperate need of cash this can become the 21st century "Trojan Horse." Jihad with money. This must be stopped. Please take the time to view this urgent video. The present economic challenges our country face elevate the importance of addressing this now before it is too late. The United States can not be allowed to become another Denmark. Please circulate this link widely.

http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/home/18-headline-item/518-shariah-compliant-finance-jihad-with-money

[jreddout]

Great story, but Steve Kroft needs to look up the word "enormity." While Fox News might use that word to describe Obama''s campaign, I don''t think that''s the word Steve meant to use.

[tcoleman12]

"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."-Quote from Story.

Story should read "...correspondent Steve Kroft knelt down in front of them at a Chicago hotel suite."

The more accurate story of Obama winning the election.

[future121]

Interesting. But just as a thought.. Both sides of my family were German- but my husbands family one side was Italian, the other Russian & Polish. At one time in history your linage was traced in this way. Americans and perhaps a good portion of the world is diverse. It is that diversity which makes us strong and unites us. I never really thought of race as anything different than linage. Everyones family tree may be diverse in many ways.

[spinproof]

This is not about whites claiming him. It''''s about respecting someone''''s roots and family. Mr. Obama did mention about his white mom and grandmother who passed away. He also has an Asian half sister. Racial intermarriage is a part of the Obama family tree.

Posted by astroboy8 at 11:32 AM : Nov 11, 2008

Sen. Obama has always recognized his entire heritage, Black and White, but he also mentioned he looked "Black" and based on his looks was always treated like a "Black" and so in effect he is "Black" having had a "Black" experience in life. With all the major issues facing our nation skin color is the last thing on the minds of Americans, it really is irrelevant as the recent Democratic victory showed. I like what Pres.-elect Obama said on his choice of a White House dog, he said he wanted a shelter dog, a mutt like himself, Obama knows where he came from and who he is, too bad so many others are lost in racial time warps.

[astroboy8-2009]

Mr. Obama is not a black man.

Posted by astroboy8

I don''''t see how it matters, but by most printed definitions, he is. Have you bothered to look it up anywhere? I doubt it.

Posted by slownewsdaze

___________________________


It matters that the record is set straight: Mr. Obama is biracial. He is 50% white and 50% black, or 50% black and 50% white (for those of you who have a thing about which term comes first). So he can''t be just black. What the media prints is not always correct. Persons of mixed races embrace all parts of their heritage.

__________________________
This is a funny Post because in trying defeat Sen. Obama he was "only" a Black Man and his White heritage was never mentioned or referenced, now that the election is over and Sen. Obama has won its OK for him to be White, now Whites want to claim him. LOL


Posted by spinproof

_____________________________
This is not about whites claiming him. It''s about respecting someone''s roots and family. Mr. Obama did mention about his white mom and grandmother who passed away. He also has an Asian half sister. Racial intermarriage is a part of the Obama family tree.

[spinproof]

Mr. Obama is not a black man. He was born to a white mom and a black dad, making him a biracial person. To ignore part of his heritage in this way is to disrespect the memory of his mom. Moreover, it is an insult to say he has a "foreign sounding name." Who gave you the right to claim whether one particular name sounds more rightfully American than another? Let''''s finally move into the 21st century shall we.

Posted by astroboy8 at 01:39 AM : Nov 11, 2008

This is a funny Post because in trying defeat Sen. Obama he was "only" a Black Man and his White heritage was never mentioned or referenced, now that the election is over and Sen. Obama has won its OK for him to be White, now Whites want to claim him. LOL

[standlee5]

,%u201D the president-Elect said, %u201CYou made this happen.%u201D


not to mention the 800 million or was it a billion.

[astroboy8-2009]

Mr. Obama is not a black man. He was born to a white mom and a black dad, making him a biracial person. To ignore part of his heritage in this way is to disrespect the memory of his mom. Moreover, it is an insult to say he has a "foreign sounding name." Who gave you the right to claim whether one particular name sounds more rightfully American than another? Let''s finally move into the 21st century shall we.

[martimr1]

That "needing to be president" thing should somehow automatically disqualify anyone from becoming president. So I''ve always thought.

So it''s a great relief to hear that Obama doesn''t have it. What a concept: wanting to be president so as to accomplish things for the American people!

[ascension64]

I personally don''''t think we should have bailed out any of the crooked lenders or the irresponsible home buyers that fell for these junk loans. They brought it on themselves. But it''''s ok the govmnt will help you.

Posted by kevnkar at 08:14 PM : Nov 10, 2008

That part I agree with you. However I hate to have this many people losing their jobs. After retiring from the Navy I was in and out of jobs. It absolutely sucks because I was brought up not believing in handoouts so i never took welfare or unemployment. Being broke sucks. I dont agree with the bailout either, but if its gonna keep peoples heads above water till we figure this out, then i''m for it. Time to put aside silly differences and fix this nation.

[blessed61]

7 billion dollars??? and how much did T Boone Pickens loose? If you put all of that money together, you could bail out a lot of poor people.

[kevnkar]

The damage done by George Bush, his War based on LIES and his totally failed Economic Plan should be the major concern of EVERY America, not how Obama plans to pull us out of it. We can look back in 4 years and make a judgment on that. I think the ONLY reason fascist insist on doing this is simple. Obama WILL be successful!


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Posted by Irmcvet97 at 08:07 PM : Nov 10, 2008

Actually, how Obama plans to pull us out of it is more important. All I have seen is plans for more and more spending. This after promising the people who elected him tax breaks. The middle class will end up paying for all this. Sorry, I couldn''t keep my promise because I had to fix everything. I personally don''t think we should have bailed out any of the crooked lenders or the irresponsible home buyers that fell for these junk loans. They brought it on themselves. But it''s ok the govmnt will help you.

[kevnkar]

I have never been able to figure out why Fascist have such a problem with giving American''''s who are trying to do something with their lives money and do not have any problem what so ever giving it to corrupt Corporations who like Black Water, who have ripped tax payers off for how many billions we may never know. When you give a Middle Class person a buck they will spend that buck IN THIS nation and it will be a benefit to them and all around them.


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Posted by Irmcvet97

Want to talk about ripping off americans? Ask Rahm Emanuel about his stint on the board of Freddie Mac while they were lying about how much money they had. Appointed by Clinton. Now appointed by Obama. The Dems are the ones that allowed this economic meltdown. This is how you get a republican as chief of staff to Obama. They were in on the rip off together.

[irmcvet97]

I love my country. I served it for more than twenty years and that is why I don''''t want to see it further weakened under the burden of rediculous beaurocricies inacted by a puppet of the tri-lateral commision.

Posted by kevnkar at 07:41 PM : Nov 10, 2008

The damage done by George Bush, his War based on LIES and his totally failed Economic Plan should be the major concern of EVERY America, not how Obama plans to pull us out of it. We can look back in 4 years and make a judgment on that. I think the ONLY reason fascist insist on doing this is simple. Obama WILL be successful!

[irmcvet97]

Also remember that on December 13, the Electoral College meets to casts its votes. If it has been determined that Mr. Obama is an illegal alien and therefore ineligible to become President of the United States, the Electors will be duty-bound to honor the Constitution


Posted by theblackman9 at 07:14 PM : Nov 10, 2008

LOL I guess you have to hang on to something huh? Good luck with this! LOL

[irmcvet97]

at least we know who McCain is/was. All we have now is unanswered questions of past associations with radicals on the fringe of american society and votes of "present" in the senate.

Posted by jmccrea2662 at 04:45 PM : Nov 10, 2008

His association with "Radicals" was answered to the satisfaction of the American People... it seems the ONLY people not satisfied with Obama''s explanation was Fascist like Limbaugh and people like you who follow them. I have lived in Chicago for a long time and frankly we were amazed by the fact that fascist tried to use it as they did. WE knew America was in trouble and would see through it. THEY did!

[irmcvet97]

And then, there''''s the matter of the "college service" program. In it''''s latest itteration calls for paying students $4000 for 100 hrs of community service at a cost of 32 billion a year just for the payouts. Add the cost of the huge administrative machine that will go with it. Still more tax burden on the middle class.

Posted by kevnkar at 07:23 PM : Nov 10, 2008

I have never been able to figure out why Fascist have such a problem with giving American''s who are trying to do something with their lives money and do not have any problem what so ever giving it to corrupt Corporations who like Black Water, who have ripped tax payers off for how many billions we may never know. When you give a Middle Class person a buck they will spend that buck IN THIS nation and it will be a benefit to them and all around them.

[kevnkar]

America, Love it or Leave it.
Remember that you right wing whackos?


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Posted by actesq

I love my country. I served it for more than twenty years and that is why I don''t want to see it further weakened under the burden of rediculous beaurocricies inacted by a puppet of the tri-lateral commision.

[actesq]

America, Love it or Leave it.
Remember that you right wing whackos?