My Conversation with David Axelrod

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The Pennsylvania Primary is less than three weeks away. The state has 187 delegates at stake in the tight race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Senator Hillary Clinton is favored to win though some recent polls show her lead being narrowed by Senator Barack Obama, who continues to lead in both delegates and fundraising. I spoke to David Axelrod, Chief Strategist for the Obama campaign, last night about where he sees the race.

Here is part of what he said:

Comments

[RobertAndropolis]

It is getting tiresome hearing the Obama campaign continually refer to Senator Clinton as "tenacious": adj. 1. Holding firmly, as to a belief; stubborn. 2. Clinging; adhesive. 3. Tending to retain; retentive. [< Lat. tenax].

Might I suggest the substitute "mendacious": adj. 1. Lying; untruthfuil. 2. False; untrue. [< Lat. mendax, mendac].

[JohnCochtosten]

Even Obama's advisers seem to have integrity.

[lovethesinner]

Humble, professional, consistent, carefull... David Axelrod is a great example of how political campaigns SHOULD be organized and run. Between him, Markos Moulitsas, and Joe Trippi, the future of Democratic politics is in very good hands.

Fifty-state, bottom up campaigns are the future of American politics.

[morgagni]

a humble genius, Thank you, Mr. Axelrod! We the People are gonna make history!

[jakie]

ALXROD A VERY SMART MAN GO OBAMA....................................................................................

[1question]

Mr. David Axelrod:

Thanx for NOT funeralizing our audacity of truth.

Thanx for NOT getting in the way of an extraordinary man...who dared to speak to us like we are adults.

I wonder what role will you play in the coming Obama administration...!?!?

[whizkid]

David Axelrod is a race baiiting puke.
He's intelligent like Jim Jones.
They could both make a great glass of Kool-Aid.

[lovethesinner]

Whiz? Like Cheeze Whiz?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXffZysek0I

[ColumbusMike]

This has been a message from Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh. Thank you.

[Independent_voter]

Flagged for being an asshole

[debwarot]

It would be impossible for you to have gotten that from this clip, so I assume you are just spewing random, hateful comments.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

thank you

[VivaZapata]

you might want to fill in the details of your character assassination (kool aid inclusion noted). i didn't hear mention of race in the provided clip, so what do you have to offer?

[mesuki]

Thank You Mr. Axelrod for your honesty,integrity and the hard work that you have done, and continue to do for Senator Obama and all of his supporters. I pray that all the hard work will pay off soon.

[BikerJim]

I would like someone to explain to me this entire issue of "Disenfranchising" voters. According to the Clinton camp, the people of Florida and Michigan will be "disenfranchised" their delegates are not seated and their voices are not heard. Okay, I understand that part of the argument, that we in America believe that people have a right to vote and the results of that vote should be binding and absolute.
What I don"t understand is the second part of the discussion, and that is regarding the role of the superdelegates. If you agree with the above stated argument, then how can you argue that the superdelegates should OVERTURN and IGNORE those same voices and wills of the voters of the entire nation? Taking both sides of this argument seems like hypocrisy to me. If the will of the votes is supreme, then you cannot then argue the point that the superdelegates should overturn that same will of the voters.

[lovethesinner]

Good point!

[nolalily]

The DNC decides what order the states will get to vote in the primary. Michigan and Florida decided to break the rules and hold their primaries earlier. As a result, Mr. Obama, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Kucinich and Mr. Dodd removed themselves from the Michigan primary . Clinton ran anyway, even though she had signed an agreement (as had the other contenders) not to campaign in either state. She obviously won Michigan - no contest (oddly she didn't get that many votes but she was basically uncontested). She broke her promise not to campaign in Florida (the other candidates kept theirs) and campaigned there anyway. She then won Florida.

The DNC chairman and the other Dem candidates agreed that if you break the rules, you don't get to "win" those states.

Now, about their votes not counting - their votes will get to count when they vote in the general. Until then, it is the governor or Michigan (a huge Hillary supporter) whom they have to thank for not getting them a seat at the convention and the Florida Dem party will not be rewarded for breaking the rules either.

[crazyv]

talking out of two sides of their mouths has never been a problem for the Clintons. I can not believe that I voted and donated to Bill Clinton. In hindsight life for all would have been so much better if Bill Clinton had been impeached- particularly for the 4000+ dead and 25,000 wounded . Al Gore would have been President and GWB would still be in Texas someplace.

[swanky]

spin it anyway you want - your man lost the general by being too afraid to take hillary on in MI and FL - there red states now - way to go obama

[Teritt]

Ok Swanky- there is NO truth to that one. I'm sure you've read a thousand times by now that BOTH candidates agreed FL & MI wouldn't count - Hillary just changed her mind when she saw she was ahead. She decided NOT to withdraw her name in MI. Just another example of how she says one thing but does another. And if everyone in MI loved Hillary and had a chance to pick her, why was the 'undecided' count so high? All the voters of both states will count in the General Election. They aren't necessarily red states now.

[foreffectivegovernment]

nolalily:
You are truly the blind leading the blind. You could not have been more wrong in your description of the rules and what happened. Where in the world did you get this?

[RobertAndropolis]

So..? Then set us straight instead of blindly criticizing.

[dogboy]

Thanks BikerJim. If only the MSM would bring this up everytime someone uses these issues.

Would it be too hard for an interviewer to ask "what about the voters" when HRC suggests "unpledging" delegates or winning by super delegates alone.

[Pangaea]

BikerJim, you see the two sides of the argument as SUPPORTING the will off the voters and IGNOORING the will of the voters. The Clintons see the two sides of the argument as WINNING and LOSING. If you view their explanations through that framework, then their arguments "make sense."

[lincat]

I like David Axelrod. He seems like a good, intelligent man. He's the total opposite of Penn, McCauliffe,and Wolfson.

[debwarot]

Yes, he is. I really enjoyed that clip. It was nice to be assured that there are some intelligent, rational and honest political strategists out there.

[PioneerKing]

Obama looses to McCain by 33%

Clinton looses to McCain by 17%

[nolalily]

Your spelling is as bad as your statistics. Where'd you get those? Rasmussen and Gallup both have Obama beating McCain and Hillary losing to "Get off my lawn" McBush.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

As much as I would appreciate Obama winning, in my heart, I hope McCain do win instead.

I would not more young white men dying in Iraq or Afghanistan with a black man as commander in chief.

He would get blamed for the death from 2003 in history. Bush's would be able to wipe his history as the worst to the black man did it.

[debwarot]

PioneerKing, this may be your wishful thinking but it doesn't seem very reality based.

[EvoMan]

Your spelling is as poor as your prognostication.

[BikerJim]

Man you haver GOT to be smoking somehting illegal....

[KeithM]

Man, don't say that! You'll give pot a bad name!

I blame home-schooling...

[utd]

David you are my hero. Love Barack as a candidate, but you Sir are my hero. 50 state strategy, grassroots campaign by the people, not accountable to big money/big interest, the way the Democratic party should be. I have nothing but admiration and respect. However, we need to talk about that mustache buddy. Get that thing stuffed and mounted. Keep up the good work in the unlikely event you have time or bother to read any of this junk.

Go Obama 08'

[GIZMOID]

yes, i agree about david axelrod. speaking of which, this moment is reminiscent in a very good way of harold washington. after all this rancor---and i am fairly sick and tired of the clintons and just the lengggtthhh of this primary season---i will still happily vote for hillary if it comes to that. but obama, like washington, provides us with the rare opportunity to not just settle, but to feel proud walking out of the voting booth.

obama '08.

[swanky]

guaranteed losing strategy - doesn't have a chance

[harriscrl3]

An Intelligent man with Integrity. Mark Penn should take notes.

Carol

[mesuki]

Mark penn looks like this guy that tried to sell me a gold chain in the streets of New york a few years ago. At first he wanted $150.00 dollars for it but when I said I didn't have enough money on me he said I could have it for $10.00. To me Penn always looks like he just stole something,he looks dishonest. No wonder Clinton's campaign is in a mess. He should take notes from Axel rod.

[nolalily]

One thing I can say for Penn. He has one stupendous comb-over!

[BikerJim]

Penn can't take notes, he is too busy meeting with the Columbians about free trade....

[debwarot]

Or with his Blackwater pals.

[GrainOSand]

The making of a president is a voyage that requires all hands on deck. The Barack Obama ship has an outstanding crew as exemplified by Mr. Axelrod.

Charlie thanks for being one of the best voices on TV. This little guy appreciates your big, intelligent, and honest voice. I enjoyed and was educated by the Ted Turner interview.

Be well sir and watch out for flying laptops. :-)

[RoseFromPhila]

GO HILLARY..... You can slice it, dice it or what ever excuses you say David Axelrod but this is Hillary Country.... and hopefully so will be the next 10 states.....GO HILLARY!!!

[citizenxyz]

RoseFromPhila,
Not from my perspective. Hillary is an individual who lies on a regular basis, who wants everything done only her way and will elbow out others' views, who is only interested in one thing- that she become the next president. This is not her country- it is our country- yours and mine.