CAMPAIGN 2008

David Plouffe

Obama's quiet, tightly wound campaign manager is a one-man political database.

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Charles Ommanney / Getty Images for Newsweek
The Details Man: Plouffe (second from left)
 

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It was clear from the start that Plouffe would be the campaign's organizational mastermind. At a strategy session in December 2006, Obama asked about putting together a plan for the primaries. Plouffe (above, second from left) had already worked it out in his head, and spelled out for Obama the state-by-state strategy the campaign would ultimately execute. Now, along with overseeing that plan, he is in charge of all the campaign's many moving parts—media, staff, fund-raising, travel. Plouffe, who went to Obama through chief strategist David Axelrod, his political partner in Chicago, bulked up on electoral minutiae working for Dick Gephardt and helping elect congressional Democrats across the country. Plouffe recognized early on that Iowa would be critical in toppling Hillary Clinton, and drew on experience working for Sen. Tom Harkin to figure out the state. Publicity-shy, Plouffe would "rather have a pen stabbed in his eye than pose for a photo," says an Obama staffer. "He's the perfect manager for Obama," says his pal Axelrod. "Talk about a no-drama guy. He's unflappable. He rarely raises his voice—but he commands attention."

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: howiefineman @ 05/12/2008 4:36:37 AM

    haha the biggest haters are the ones responsible for the republicans being in office in the first place: The NOBLE SPEAKING EVER RESPECTFUL BEVERAGE CHALLENEGED TEDDY KENNEDY, THE RESPECTFUL AND EVER LOYAL LOST IN A LANDSLIDE TO TRICKY DICK OF ALL PEOPLE GEORGE MCGOVERN, HAMAS LOVING JIMMY CARTER, SWIFT BOATED JOHN KERRY, JUST NOW SLITHERING OUT FROM UNDER A ROCK JOHN EDWARDS, VENGEANCE IS MINE I WILL CAST THE DECIDING VOTE AL GORE, YEEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAW HOWARD DEAN, ZERO DELEGATE WINNING DODD, NEVER EVEN GOT OFF THE BENCH BILL BRADLEY, FIRST SENATE LEADER IN HALF A CENTURY TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE TOM DASCHEL AND WHO THE HELL CARES BILL RICHARDSON. haha if any of these gyne envy phallically challenged "MEN" had done their job this country wouldnt be in this mess. THEY are the ones responsible for BUSH. THEY are the ones responsible for the mess the Democratic Party is in. THEY are the ones responsible for knocking out Senator Clinton because BANTAMWEIGHT BARRY couldnt. Clinton has had their t*ts in a ringer for 16 MONTHS and they still havent been able to do it. hahaha and theyve got the DNC and MSM and all the obamabots helping them out. GOD BLESS AMERICA. oops i mean NO, NO, NO, GOD DAMN AMERICA OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT BY OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN SPIRITUAL ADVISOR TO OBAMA CRAZY OLD UNCLE JEREMIAH WRIGHT. hahahahaha

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 05/11/2008 1:25:49 PM

    Aww, how sweet, H! I'm not a mother but thanks for posting this.

  • Posted By: Huachuca @ 05/11/2008 7:01:06 AM

    To all of the bloggers who happen to be a Mother,

    HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

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