David Axelrod is a Democratic political operative, campaign consultant, and media commentator best known as the chief strategist for both of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. ¹  He is a senior political commentator for CNN and hosts a CNN-produced podcast. ^{2 3}

Axelrod is credited with managing more than 150 local, state, or federal political campaigns over the course of his career, and is known for his ability to effectively present Black candidates such as former President Barack Obama, former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington (D), and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer (D) to white voters. ¹

Early Career

After graduation from the University of Chicago, Axelrod began his career in 1977 as a reporter at the Chicago Tribune, rising to City Hall bureau chief and lead political reporter. ² In 1984, he left the Tribune to begin his career in political consulting as the communications director and then campaign manager for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of then-U.S. Representative Paul Simon (D-IL). ^{2 4}

Axelrod managed the successful 1996 Congressional campaign of Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), and Axelrod’s son worked as an unpaid intern in Blagojevich’s Congressional office. ⁵ However, Axelrod claims to have declined a role in Blagojevich’s 2002 campaign for governor because he considered Blagojevich to “lack the qualities for executive leadership.” ⁶ Blagojevich was convicted on federal charges in 2010 related to his effort to solicit bribes to name Obama’s replacement to the U.S. Senate, though he was later pardoned by President Donald Trump. ^{6 7}

Axelrod’s first Presidential campaign was then-Senator Paul Simon’s (D-IL) run for the Democratic nomination in 1988. ⁸

In 2004, Axelrod served as chief media strategist for the presidential campaign of then-U.S. Senator John Edwards (D-NC). ⁹

Obama Campaigns

Axelrod met Barack Obama in 1992 and ran Obama’s successful U.S. Senate campaign in 2004. ¹

In 2008, Axelrod was chief strategist for Obama’s presidential campaign and is widely credited for successfully positioning Obama both during the Democratic primaries against then-U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and in the general election against then-U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ). ¹

After Obama’s election, Axelrod became a senior presidential advisor in the Obama White House, resigning that post to reprise his chief strategist role for Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. ¹

Post-Obama Campaign Career

In 2013, Axelrod became the founding director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago. ¹⁰ He held that post until 2023. ¹⁰

In 2013, Axelrod also joined CNN as a senior political correspondent. ²

Axelrod has written two books and hosts a CNN-produced podcast, The Axe Files with David Axelrod. ³

Clinton Campaign Criticism

Axelrod was publicly critical of Hillary Clinton during and after her 2016 presidential campaign. ^{11 12} During the 2016 Democratic primaries, Axelrod frequently posted criticisms and “fact checks” of Clinton to Twitter. ¹¹

In October 2016, Axelrod claimed not to know any political consultants, either Republican or Democratic, who privately believed that Donald Trump would win the election. ¹³

After the election, Axelrod increased his criticism of Clinton, saying that “it takes a lot of work to lose to Donald Trump,” and rebuking her efforts to blame then-FBI Director James Comey for her defeat. ¹² “Jim Comey didn’t tell her not to campaign in Wisconsin after the convention, Jim Comey didn’t say ‘don’t put any resources into Michigan until the final week,’” he said on CNN. ¹²

2024 Election

Axelrod publicly encouraged President Joe Biden not to run for reelection in 2024, citing Biden’s age and declining mental capabilities as a concern. As a result, then-President Biden reportedly referred to Axelrod as a “prick.” ¹⁴

1. “David Axelrod.” American Association of Political Consultants. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://theaapc.org/recognition-awards/hall-of-fame/david-axelrod/.
2. “CNN Profiles – David Axelrod – CNN Senior Political Commentator.” CNN. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/profiles/david-axelrod#about.
3. “The Axe Files with David Axelrod.” CNN. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/axe-files.
4. Pick, Grant. “Hatchet Man: The Rise of David Axelrod.” Chicago Magazine, December 1, 1987. https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/December-1987/Hatchet-Man-The-Rise-of-David-Axelrod/.
5.  Felsenthal, Carol. “David Axelrod Dishes on Obama, Jarrett, and Blago in New Book.” Chicago Magazine, February 10, 2015. https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/felsenthal-files/february-2015/david-axelrod-book/.
6. “Axelrod: Blagojevich Lacked Executive Leadership.” The State Journal-Register, April 7, 2011. https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2011/04/07/axelrod-blagojevich-lacked-executive-leadership/43231441007/.
7. Miller, Zeke, and Michelle L. Price. “Trump Pardons Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich 5 Years after Commuting His Sentence.” AP News, February 11, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardons-rod-blagojevich-ea52b9bd10ee8120934c434e5c75e406.
8. Hartley, Robert. “IDEAS WEREN’T ENOUGH: THE STRATEGIES BEHIND PAUL SIMON’S RUN FOR PRESIDENT, 1987-88.” Southern Illinois University Paul Simon Policy Institute, November 2023. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1073&context=ppi_papers.
9. Morrill, Jim. “David Axelrod No Fan of His Ex-Client John Edwards.” Raleigh News & Observer, February 15, 2015. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article11305670.html.
10. “David Axelrod to Step down as Director of UChicago’s Institute of Politics in 2023.” University of Chicago News, February 15, 2022. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/david-axelrod-step-down-director-uchicagos-institute-politics-2023.
11. Karni, Annie. “Hillary Clinton’s Backseat Driver.” Politico, March 10, 2016. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/hillary-clinton-david-axelrod-backseat-driver-220592.
12. Guild, Blair. “David Axelrod on Hillary Clinton: ‘It Takes a Lot of Work to Lose to Donald Trump.’” CBS News, May 3, 2017. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-axelrod-to-hillary-clinton-it-takes-a-lot-of-work-to-lose-to-donald-trump/.
13. Savransky, Rebecca. “Axelrod: I Don’t Know Any Strategist on Either Side Who Thinks Trump Will Win.” The Hill, October 24, 2016. https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/302398-axelrod-i-dont-know-any-strategist-on-either-side-who-privately/
14.  Lizza, Ryan. “Joe Biden Called David Axelrod a ‘Prick.’ It Won’t Shut Him Up.” Politico Magazine, January 12, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/12/david-axelrod-obama-biden-2024-00135194.