Obama preparing for 2012 already?

Politico reports that the White House is beginning to gear up for reelection. Many of the same faces from 2008 will return to their old campaign roles (did they ever really leave those roles?). 

David Axelrod, White House senior adviser, may leave the West Wing to rejoin his family in Chicago and reprise his role as Obama’s muse, overseeing the campaign’s tone, themes, messages and advertising, the sources said.

David Plouffe, the Obama for America campaign manager, described by one friend as "the father of all this," will be a central player in the reelect, perhaps as an outside adviser.

"The conversations are beginning, but decisions haven't been made," a top official said. "If you look at David Plouffe's stepped-up level of activity with the political organization [as an outside adviser on the 2010 races], that is obviously the beginning of the process." 

Anita Dunn, former White House communications director, will be intimately involved, too. Brad Woodhouse, the Democratic National Committee’s communications director, enjoys rising stock and would be a logical choice to be communications director for the reelection campaign, the sources said.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett are likely to remain at the president’s side in Washington, while exercising major influence over the campaign. Pfeiffer, communications director of the last campaign and always a trusted insider, has a higher public profile every day.

Other central figures are likely to be DNC Executive Director Jennifer O'Malley Dillon; her husband, Patrick Dillon, who is deputy White House political director and is likely to bring his extensive gubernatorial contacts to Chicago; Mitch Stewart, executive director of the DNC's Organizing for America; Jon Carson, national field director of Obama for America; and White House political director Patrick Gaspard.

It isn’t uncommon for modern day politicians to be in perpetual campaign mode. The Republicans are gearing up already. While the Politico piece mentions that opposition research against Republicans have begun, I have to wonder if Team Obama is considering a challenge from their side of the fence?  Call me crazy, but I still think Hillary will take another stab at 2012.  Why shouldn’t she?  If Obama is still stinking up the joint and Democrats get their tails kicked for following Obama’s agenda, then there will be good reason for her challenge him in a primary. Plus, Hillary has one heck of a campaign slogan “I told ya so”!

Learning this news about Obama preparing for 2012, has me wondering if the Health Care Dog and Pony show isn’t more for his benefit than for the Democrats? Democrats are going to look mighty foolish if they still cannot pass ObamaCare (scapegoating Republicans or not), Obama on the other hand will at least be able to point to the summit and say he tried. It will be interesting to watch Obama's actions from here until the midterms to see just exactly who is benefiting politically.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Politico