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Reporting and analysis from ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos reports on events in politics, Congress and the White House for ABCNews, on the air and online. He interviews top newsmakers, discusses the events of the week and looks to the week ahead each Sunday on 'This Week.'

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Axelrod, Emanuel to Obama White House; Gibbs, Jarrett to Play Key Roles

November 06, 2008 1:16 PM

Abc_axelrod_obama_emanuel_081106_ma Former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod has accepted the position of Senior Adviser in the White House, sources tell ABC News.

Robert Gibbs is also likely to join Obama's White House as Press Secretary, and Obama would like his confidante Valerie Jarrett to play a key role. The exact parameters have not been set.

They will join Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill, who has accepted the position of Obama's White House Chief of Staff.

He brings a lot of strengths to the office.

He knows the White House. He served there for six-and-a-half years under President Clinton.

He knows Congress. He's been a member of Congress now for four terms and risen to the number four Democratic leadership position on Capitol Hill.

He knows policy and he knows how to drive policies through the bureaucracy.

He's also loyal. Obama has told associates he believes he's "got his back."

He'll be a strong presence in the White House.

Emanuel has centrist instincts and understands the dangers of moving too far in one direction in part from the Clinton experience.

There's been commentary from some Republicans arguing Emanuel is too partisan. But he's also made a point of reaching out in the House to Republicans and building bridges. He's had a series of bipartisan dinners over the last several years to build bridges with Democrats and Republicans.

He likely understands that successful presidencies build those centrist coalitions.

--George Stephanopoulos

November 6, 2008 in Barack Obama, White House | Permalink | Share | User Comments (344)

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Any chance that George will be rejoining his friend on the inside... regrettably, I doubt it.

Posted by: ForthandBack | Nov 6, 2008 1:34:25 PM

┏━━┓┏━━┓┏━━┓┏★━┓
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┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: Smelling better 'round here | Nov 6, 2008 1:37:40 PM

Two excellent choices. So far so good.

Posted by: OnTheGloryRoad | Nov 6, 2008 1:39:03 PM

┏━━┓┏━━┓┏━━┓┏★━┓
┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: muklukmom | Nov 6, 2008 1:41:34 PM

Already Boehner is attacking Obama for his pick of Emmanuel.

The Republicans just can let go and admit they got beat by a better and more intelligent person who offers hope when they offered doom & gloom.

Well . . . so much for the honeymoon!

Posted by: Tom Kaye | Nov 6, 2008 1:42:42 PM

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┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
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Posted by: swiftypa | Nov 6, 2008 1:42:42 PM

Appoint Sarah as White House Tour Greeter.

Posted by: pLANETaX | Nov 6, 2008 1:42:45 PM

┏━━┓┏━━┓┏━━┓┏★━┓
┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
┃┗━┓┃┗★┃┃┗┛┃┃★┛┃
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Posted by: d | Nov 6, 2008 1:42:48 PM

Any chance that George will be rejoining his friend on the inside... regrettably, I doubt it.
----------------------------------------

Georgie makes more money in ABC than White House, I guess

Posted by: Curious George | Nov 6, 2008 1:43:23 PM

GREAT CHOICES SO FAR America you made a great choice For President!!!!!

Posted by: Angie | Nov 6, 2008 1:43:54 PM

If Obama runs his Whitehouse anything like he ran his campaign we're going to be in good shape.

Posted by: freedomfighter1975 | Nov 6, 2008 1:44:10 PM

Happy days are here again! Now we have to clean up the disgraceful stinking mess the republicans have left us... (hey 'pubs: I hope you're proud of yourselves! no one else is...)

Posted by: dem in chicago | Nov 6, 2008 1:44:17 PM

I hope Warren Buffet gets a position in Obama's White House. I like the first two picks, as well as Obama's pick of Joe Biden for VP.

Posted by: Eric from Ohio | Nov 6, 2008 1:44:20 PM

Total leftist will govern on the left. Hang on to your seats folks. government take over has begun.

Posted by: Youaredecieved | Nov 6, 2008 1:44:42 PM

i so happy that mr. obama won maybe we as people can have a life.

Posted by: lilbit | Nov 6, 2008 1:45:19 PM

History has been made!

┏━━┓┏━━┓┏━━┓┏★━┓
┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
┃┗━┓┃┗★┃┃┗┛┃┃★┛┃
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Posted by: Mike M. | Nov 6, 2008 1:45:19 PM

┏━━┓┏━━┓┏━━┓┏★━┓
┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
┃┗━┓┃┗★┃┃┗┛┃┃★┛┃
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Posted by: sharon | Nov 6, 2008 1:45:21 PM

GOP QUIT THE WHINING THIS IS WHY YOU LOST WORK WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!

Posted by: Angie | Nov 6, 2008 1:45:25 PM

Now we will see if some people truly believed in putting COUNTRY FIRST or if it was just a slogan.

Posted by: TakingPictures | Nov 6, 2008 1:48:17 PM

Savy, I tell you this guy Obama is smart. His frst two picks are exceptional. Bravo. Now can we get George Stephanopoulos, he is an amazing political talent and from what I read a heck of a guy.

Posted by: Medium John | Nov 6, 2008 1:48:52 PM

WHAT A HECK OF A TEAM IN AXELROD AND RHAM. GETTING THINGS DONE FAST AND EFFECTIVE IS WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.LET PSALM CHAPTER 1 BE YOUR GUIDE WHILE WE LIFT YOU UP IN PRAYER.YES YOU CAN!!!!

Posted by: EUGENE CARTER | Nov 6, 2008 1:49:42 PM

┏━━┓┏━━┓┏━━┓┏★━┓
┗☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃☆┓┃┃┏┓┃ Copy & Paste
┏━┛┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┃┗┛☆ If you're glad
┃┏☆┛┃┃┃┃┃┃☆┃┃┏┓┃ Obama won!
┃┗━┓┃┗★┃┃┗┛┃┃★┛┃
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Posted by: Ascension64 | Nov 6, 2008 1:49:43 PM

Good picks. Hope Colin Powell gets a position too.

Posted by: ziadora | Nov 6, 2008 1:50:18 PM

Well....the Republicans are ready willing and able to throw everything back at the Dems just like they did for the last 8 years to Pres.Bush. Big ears Obama better get thick skin for this job. Michelle better be ready to cradle his sad face in her bosom each night. Maybe the "dog" (not allowed in the Muslim faith) will give him comfort. Wash your hands after petting the dog!

Posted by: Emma Ann | Nov 6, 2008 1:50:32 PM

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Posted by: Deep Release | Nov 6, 2008 1:50:42 PM

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