David Axelrod, President Barack Obama's chief campaign strategist, said Sunday that he respects Fox News Channel President Roger Ailes and considers him to be a “compadre.”
Axelrod appeared Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union” with Candy Crowley.
A companion video posted on CNN.com titled “Behind the scenes with David Axelrod” showed Axelrod giving Crowley a tour of his office and discussing a variety of topics, including his favorite photos and Obama's dog Bo.
Axelrod said he first got to know Ailes – who previously served as a consultant for a variety of Republican candidates, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Rudy Giuliani – when Axelrod was the communications director and then campaign manager for Paul Simon's successful 1984 U.S. Senate run. Ailes served as a consultant for then-Sen. Chuck Percy, who lost to Simon in an upset.
Story continues below video.
“You know what, I have an interesting relationship with him,” Axelrod said. “First of all, I like old warhorses, you know, because we share something. Secondly, you know, I've come to grips – he is who he is.”
“And you know who he is,” Crowley interjected.
“Yes – and he knows I know, and he knows who I am and we go from there.”
Axelrod finished by admitting that “I shouldn't say this on camera,” but he considers himself and Ailes to be “compadres.”
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.