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On Thursday, the Obama campaign opened its Chicago reelection headquarters to the media. Reporters and photographers were briefly able to scamper around a single-floor of the building and jot down nearly every poster, slogan and square foot as evidence of a potential political strategy.
Right from the get-go, visiting reporters were greeted with a sign that said "Respect. Empower. Include. Win," a catch-all slogan that will be dissected countless times before the campaign truly begins. In the same over-analytical vein, here's the other everyday office items that could be attributed more meaning than they might deserve:
- The Chicago Location: "Trying to win re-election from outside Washington is something no incumbent president has done in decades," relays the Associated Press. Reading Into the Decision: The location could be a clear way to send a message that Obama hears "real people's concerns" as aides have said, rather than being beltway-centric. Or: Obama is just comfortable in Chicago.
- The Size of the Office: "The office occupies 50,000 square feet on a single floor — up from 31,000 in the 2008 headquarters," observed Politico. Reading Into the Decision: Another tell-tale sign that Obama is looking to raise over a $1 billion dollars for his reelection. Or: since he's president now, he's just accumulated a little more staff over time.
- The Layout of the Office: Only a few key campaign leaders have actual offices, the rest work in rows in the center of the floor. Reading Into It: The "space's organization reflects Obama's grassroots campaign style, which is open and inclusive," noted Reuters. Or: It was easier to build quickly that way, and convenient for staffers to communicate, like they're doing for the cameras below.
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.
