President-elect Barack Obama

Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod

Another excellent choice.

"Although he is as tough as they come, he's actually not a mercenary," said Mr. Obama, of Illinois, in an interview. "He actually believes in what we're doing, which actually makes him a bad consultant when he doesn't believe in the candidate. And he's a great consultant when he believes."

And a no-drama counterpoint to Rahm.