Obama Appoints Chief Campaign Strategist As Senior White House Adviser

November 20, 2008 9:51 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday said the architect of his historic campaign will serve as senior White House adviser.

In a statement, the Obama transition team said David Axelrod, chief campaign strategist for Obama this cycle and head of president-elect's campaign for senator in 2004, has been appointed to the post. Axelrod is a former Chicago Tribune reporter who was also responsible for the election victories of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

Gregory Craig, who was assistant and special counsel to former President Bill Clinton and leader of the team that defended Clinton against impeachment, will serve as White House counsel.

Chris Lu, who was policy adviser in the Obama campaign and legislative director and acting chief of staff in Obama's Senate office, has been appointed Cabinet secretary, while Lisa Brown, who was counsel to former Vice President Gore, will serve as staff secretary.

"I am pleased to announce these new additions to our team, and I'll be relying on their broad and diverse experience in the months ahead as we work to strengthen our economy, reform Washington, and meet the great challenges of our time," Obama said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Obama named other members of his White House staff. Close adviser and Obama transition team co-chair Valerie Jarrett will serve as senior adviser and assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison. Pete Rouse, former chief of Obama's Senate staff, will serve as White House senior adviser. Two members of the transition team, Mona Sutphen and Jim Messina, have both been appointed as deputy chief of staff.

Phil Schiliro will be Obama's assistant for Legislative Affairs. He currently serves as director of Congressional Relations for the transition team.

Ron Klain, top aide to former Vice President Al Gore and the lawyer in charge of Gore's recount efforts in the 2000 presidential election, will be Vice President Joe Biden's chief of staff.