Re: Axelrod

From:pir@hrcoffice.com To: Cheryl.mills@gmail.com, huma@hrcoffice.com CC: john.podesta@gmail.com, robbymook@gmail.com, nmerrill@hrcoffice.com, huma@clintonemail.com, dschwerin@hrcoffice.com, jake.sullivan@gmail.com Date: 2015-01-08 02:27 Subject: Re: Axelrod

I don't really know David and don't really know much about his tenure at the White House - but that won't stop me from rendering a psychological diagnosis based on next to nothing: He is one of the people who created a President. The Holy Grail of his profession. Carville, Stephonoplous, Rove. Household name territory. But he never reached that same level of broad national recognition and never joined their celebrity ranks. His time at the WH was probably rockier than known, and the end didn't seem to come cleanly. So while PNG'd might be a strong term, he doesn't seem to be high on the President's Xmas card list, and he knows he has no real shot at working for her. James & George went on to stardom and riches and never looked back. They won their ring, were done with national politics. So it's gotta be frustrating to have achieved what David did in 2008 but be stuck in a weird limbo where he wants to remain in the game - not just in it but at the top - but can't find a home. I also don't think he's nearly as high on HRC as he says he is. I think he was one of the few who didn't fall in love with her when she joined the cabinet. Not Gibbs-Pfeiffer level reluctance, but not a full embrace either. If he did, he wouldn't act out by saying or Tweeting these things. ------ what is odd is that - she did more than reach out to him when she left - she went a did a fundraiser for his charitable enterprise. then he still said/tweeted less than kind things. so the notion that it is coming somehow related to her not having spoken to him strike me a hollow in light of some of his comments given her generosity to him as one of her first appearances. On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 11:18 AM, Huma Abedin <huma@hrcoffice.com> wrote: Just wanted to follow-up on this original note. As you may have seen, Ax tweeted this a short while ago: >..Smart of @HillaryClinton to be counseling with @benensonj. He was brilliant, essential player in @BarackObama wins! He called me last night to give us a heads up that O’Malley and Webb have both asked to speak at his institute. We got into a conversation about his public comments. He assured me that he is 100 percent supportive of HRC and that she will be the nominee and understands that we might be frustrated with what he has said. I sense that he is disappointed that we have talked to everyone else in Obama world except for him and I assured him that HRC would be in touch soon. I think we are now in a good place with him but she needs to call him and I conveyed that to her. Will try to get it done this week. From: Philippe Reines [mailto:pir@hrcoffice.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 10:35 PM To: CDM; John Podesta; Robby Mook; Nick Merrill; Huma Abedin; Dan Schwerin; Jake Sullivan Subject: Axelrod We had discussed the utility of reaching out to David Axelrod, but Is he on HRC’s – or anyone’s — call sheet? I hate to reward bad behavior, but this seems like one headache we could easily neutralize. Axelrod on Hillary: ‘Ready for What?' By Peter Sullivan December 16, 2014 The Hill David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Obama, said Tuesday that Hillary Clinton needs to establish a rationale for her presidential candidacy, saying when he hears “Ready for Hillary,” he thinks, “Ready for what?” “What happened in 2008 was that Hillary’s candidacy