Updated: 10/04/2025 20:37:30
David Axelrod
David Axelrod is a prominent American political strategist, commentator, and author best known as a chief architect of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and later as the Obama White House’s chief strategist and senior advisor. A former political writer for the Chicago Tribune, Axelrod founded the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics (IOP) in 2012 and continues as a senior fellow, hosts the interview program “The Axe Files,” and authored the memoir Believer: My Forty Years in Politics.
Authorship — Believer: My Forty Years in Politics
Axelrod is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Believer: My Forty Years in Politics, which recounts his political career, campaign experiences, and reflections on American politics. [1]
Early life, education and journalism background
Axelrod earned an AB from the University of Chicago and began his career in journalism, notably as a political writer for the Chicago Tribune. His journalism and reporting experience provided an entry into political communications and campaign strategy. [2]
Founder and leader of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics (IOP)
Axelrod founded the nonpartisan Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago in 2012 to engage students in practical politics and public service; he served as the IOP’s director and later continued as a senior fellow while remaining a visible public figure on campus. [3]
Online presence and media contact
Axelrod maintains a public profile on social media (including @davidaxelrod) and is accessible for media inquiries and events via Institute of Politics channels. [4]
Political consulting and media strategy work
Before and alongside his work for Obama, Axelrod produced media strategy and political advertising for roughly 150 campaigns nationwide, building a reputation as a leading Democratic strategist and communicator. [5]
Public engagement and commentary
As a senior fellow at the IOP and a frequent media commentator, Axelrod moderates forums, interviews public officials, and comments on Democratic Party and U.S. politics through multiple platforms, contributing to public discourse and civic education. [6]
Role in Barack Obama’s campaigns and White House
Axelrod was a principal architect of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and served in the Obama administration as chief strategist and senior advisor, shaping national messaging and political strategy during the 2008–2012 period. [7]
The Axe Files podcast and television series
Axelrod hosts the long-running interview series “The Axe Files,” featuring in-depth conversations with public figures across the political spectrum; the program exists as a top-rated podcast and has a televised monthly program on CNN. [8]
References:
Additional Sources:
9. CNN — The Axe Files podcast [https://www.cnn.com/podcasts/the-axe-files]
10. David Axelrod on Twitter [https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod]
11. University of Chicago Institute of Politics — David Axelrod (former fellow) [https://politics.uchicago.edu/fellows/former-fellows/david-axelrod]
12. University of Chicago News — David Axelrod profile [https://news.uchicago.edu/profile/david-axelrod]
13. Wikipedia — Believer: My Forty Years in Politics [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Believer:_My_Forty_Years_in_Politics]
14. Wikipedia — David Axelrod [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Axelrod]