Obama's Communications Director on Diet Coke, Pundits, and What's Next

Q: Thanks, editor. How many press are credentialed for your event tonight?

I think, it is more than 2,000. I could be wrong. I know there are more press who want to come than there are credentials for them to come.

Q: I understand that’s been a problem for a while now.

I guess it’s a high class problem.

Q: Is there anything you’ll miss about this campaign?

Um, the people. We’ve been—we have been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows together. This has been a singular experience we’ve shared and I will be incredibly happy to leave Chicago and go home to my family in my house in Washington D.C. I will miss the people and the experiences we had together.

Q: In theory, of course, because we’re not going to talk about what will happen in an Obama administration, but in theory, do you think he’ll have the same kind of relationship with the press as you’ve have? Is the model you’ve had in the campaign, in the election, the same kind of one you would expect in an administration?

I think that there are differences between campaigning and governing and that applies to everything, how you’re organized, who you hire and your interviews with the press. If we were to win, I think it would be somewhat different. I think that an Obama White House would have the same camaraderie and discipline and organization that an Obama campaign has because that comes directly from the candidate.

Q: I heard you say that you very rightly consider yours one of the most organized and disciplined campaigns in a long time, if not ever. In one of those areas where that discipline has been has been with the press.

[Laughs] Do you mean that in a positive way or a negative way?

Q: I mean that in both ways. I mean, from the point of view of a press person. I mean, I think that in a positive way, obviously well-organized, well-staffed, well-run, none of the kind of rookie mistakes you often see, especially if you’re, as you are, on Broadway from Day One. But then again, as someone looking for something to write about, you often get stuff to write about from people being more open than they should be, or at least being open.

I think that everything we’ve done in this campaign, including our press strategy, has gone through one filter, and that’s persuading voters to support Barack Obama. Sometimes our goals and the press’ goals run into each other and—but, I think we’ve attempted to, to the best of our ability, to have a good relationship with the press, even if it has been a disciplined one. We’ve been a campaign who takes tremendous pride in not leaking.