Reluctantly came to Washington but has thrown himself into his first White House gig for the best of reasons: he cares about the President, his agenda and the country — and it shows. Has maintained both his sense of humor and his outsider sensibilities — along with a tendency to micromanage, without much ability to actually manage. (As in the campaign, he wants oversight on more than is humanly possible.) But the message, energy and clarity of the Administration's daily focus is consistent with the campaign's, and for this he and his friend the President deserve credit.
—By Mark Halperin