Obama 2.0: Axelrod Gives Up Stakes, Gris Joins AKPD; Dillon Is Dep. Pol. Director

A few updates from the larger political world that will sustain President-elect Barack Obama.

First, David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, will give up an equity stake in his consulting firm,  AKPD, Inc., (The K stands for John Kupper, the P stands for David Plouffe, the D stands for John Del Cecato.)   Plouffe will be a senior adviser to the firm. And Larry Grisolano, a.k.a "Gris,"  a long-time Democratic consultant and an early Obama aide, will join the firm as a partner.  Grisolano managed the campaign's targeting efforts and paid media expenditures; Del Cecato wrote, directed and produced many of its ads. I forget what Plouffe did, exactly, but his name sounds familiar.

Also: Obama announced that Patrick Dillon, currently the chief of staff to Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, will join his White House team as deputy political director, reporting to Patrick Gaspard.  Dillon is married to Jennifer Dillon O'Malley, the incoming executive director of the Democratic National Committee.  So they're now the official up-and-coming power couple...