Axelrod to lead new political institute at U of C

A senior political adviser to President Barack Obama said Thursday that he’s working his “last campaign” before he embarks on a career shift — creating the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago.

David Axelrod, who is the senior strategist for Obama’s re-election campaign, said he’s returning to his alma mater after the 2012 presidential elections.

“My goal is to inspire young people to go into a public arena,” he said. “I’m working on my last campaign right now. There’s nothing I can do in politics that would eclipse what I’ve already done.”

Axelrod envisioned the institute would bring high profile speakers to the university’s South Side campus, help students get internships in politics and journalism and help bring visiting fellows to campus, including policy makers, speech writers and strategists.

“Think of it as R.O.T.C. for politics,” Axelrod said.

Axelrod graduated from the private university 1976 and said he always wished there were more opportunities to expand his interest in politics while he was a student. Once a Chicago Tribune political writer, Axelrod was an adviser to the president before becoming a re-election strategist.

He said the institute would be bipartisan and modeled after a similar one at Harvard University. The institute would not be affiliated with any department, but instead serve as a resource for helping students interested in politics. So far, those who’ve agreed to serve on the institute’s advisory board include: New York Times columnist David Brooks, Republican strategist Mike Murphy, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Howard Wolfson, an aide to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Axelrod announced the institute during an event Thursday at the university that also featured a panel discussion on the presidential election. The speakers included Brooks, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. Axelrod said he hoped the institute would host similar events regularly.

Axelrod’s presence would boost the University of Chicago’s already-strong connections to the Obamas. The president once taught at its law school, the first lady served as an executive at the medical center and both Obama children attended the university’s Lab School. The university has been mentioned as potential contender for an Obama presidential library.

“Obviously any school, any university would welcome that,” Axelrod said. “I am working feverishly he doesn’t have to make that decision for a very long time.”

More than 15,000 students — between undergraduate, graduate and professional programs — attend the private university.

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Sophia Tareen can be reached at http://twitter.com/sophiatareen