Obama Shifts DNC Power to Chicago

The Democratic National Committee is moving its field operations to Chicago as part of Barack Obama's strategy to centralize the party and streamline efforts for the general election. The move has been welcomed publicly by the DNC, even though it clearly shifts power from Washington to Obama's unassuming headquarters in the Windy City, Politico notes. Chicago hasn't had such national political focus since the 1968 convention.

"Pulling people into the same city is a good idea" and can provide a boost of 2 to 3 percentage points, says an Obama adviser. But some worry that the move signals an increased focus on the presidential race, to the detriment of state and local campaigns. Still, it's hard to argue with the Obama camp's deep pockets.