In the News
Electing Obama: South Dakotan helped manage historic campaign
Argus Leader
January 25, 2009
Steve Hildebrand of Sioux Falls had a ring-side seat to Barack Obama's historic presidential campaign.
A political consultant, Hildebrand helped manage the campaign. In an interview with the Argus Leader Editorial Board, Hildebrand talked about the campaign and the new president.
Excerpts from the conversation are below. The text and video of the Editorial Board interview are available at argusleader.com.
ORGANIZING THE CAMPAIGN
How Hildebrand got involved
A former Tom Daschle staff member, Pete Rouse, went to work for then-Sen. Barack Obama. Rouse asked Hildebrand to help staff an Obama speech in Iowa in September 2006.
"I got a chance to work directly for him for the day, and that's sort of the start of our relationship, and we began to stay in touch right at that point."
When did Obama decide to run for president?
Hildebrand says at the end of 2006, he and a small group of advisers sat down with Obama and his wife, Michelle, to discuss a possible presidential run.
"It was a small (group) - about eight or nine of us - who started to do some initial discussions and planning for what could be a presidential campaign if he chose to actually go through with it."
|
 |
