Campaign guru Axelrod still close to Obama

WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- Political adviser David Axelrod, who directed U.S. President Barack Obama's successful campaign, remains one of his closest aides, observers say.

Axelrod, 54, has traded in his leather jacket and wrinkled plaid shirts for new suits, but his access to Obama hasn't changed much since he led the efforts from Chicago to get the junior U.S. senator from Illinois elected to the White House, The New York Times reported Monday.

Axelrod's status in the administration is reflected by his weekly two-hour meetings in which he and a cadre of top Obama aides -- many of whom worked with Axelrod on the campaign -- discuss the results of the latest polls and focus group meetings, and how the president's proposals are being received across the country, the newspaper said.

"It helps clarify my thinking to talk to people who I have faith in," Axelrod said. "I get to see (Obama) when I need to see him. It turns out he has a few things on his plate, so I try not to abuse that privilege.

"It's surreal, so much of this is. It is an incredible privilege to be here, but it's kind of hard to absorb and get your hands around all we're trying to do."