Campaign Gives Some Clues to How Obama Will Govern

One of his senior advisers, speaking before the election on the condition that he not be identified, said Obama is determined to live up to that pledge to reach out to independents, Republicans and critics in an effort to demonstrate his commitment to trying to unify the country and change the tone of political discourse in Washington. President Bush said much the same thing eight years ago when he was nearing his inauguration.

In seeking the presidency, Obama demonstrated his ability to direct an enterprise of significant size and complexity. A presidential campaign pales in comparison to running the federal government, but Obama's has been described as a model of efficiency, at least in the context of a business as chaotic as running for the White House.

Obama surrounded himself with talented people and trusted them to do their jobs. He paid tribute to campaign manager David Plouffe and chief strategist David Axelrod on Tuesday night, but there were literally scores of people who played critical roles and who did so without the backbiting, leaks and internal warfare that marked other campaigns.

Advisers credit Obama with setting a tone early -- no leaks, egos in check and everyone pulling in the same direction -- that survived the tensions of a long campaign. His policy apparatus was vast, a mixture of veterans of past administrations and outsiders, and by all outward evidence, it was freer of self-aggrandizement than is sometimes the case among policy wonks and intellectuals.

What intrigues those watching as the Obama campaign morphs into an Obama administration is how the 44th president will employ the organizational machinery and technological innovation of his campaign to advance his legislative and policy priorities. This structure was a key to his victory, but there is no direct translation to the White House.

Jones offered this caution. A presidential campaign is singularly, even selfishly, focused on two things: the candidate and Election Day.

A president often doesn't have that luxury, despite the attention showered on his every move. Events demand attention and reaction. "When you become president, you don't get to control that in the same way," he said. "That's where we don't have much evidence. So it's hard to judge with this fellow."