AKP&D Message and Media is one of the most influential “brand strategy” firms in Chicago, and the nation. One of the firm’s partners, David Axelrod– described as Obama’s answer to Karl Rove and the most powerful political consultant not on a coast–heads up Obama’s campaign for President.
According to the LA Times:
The burly 52-year-old with the drooping mustache oversees ad creation and coordinates with the campaign’s pollsters. During preparation for debates, he plays Clinton.
Axelrod is a former political reporter, a native New Yorker and a University of Chicago alum. The article claims he can have a hard edge when it comes to politics.
“In this town, when he did Harold Washington, he could very much throw a punch back politically at Harold Washington’s opponents,” said Bill Daley, part of Chicago’s political first family and a longtime friend.
“There was a lot of tension, a lot of back-and-forth,” Daley said. “David was very good at negative commercials. But David understands that this campaign is not about that, and Barack Obama is not that candidate.”
It’s good to know that Axelrod has it in him to sling dirt. Not that I, or anyone else, is calling for that. But you never know when it might be needed.
