Aide to Selby MP helped in Obama campaign (From York Press)

Aide to Selby MP helped in Obama campaign

10:30am Friday 7th November 2008 in Search By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

HE was the right-hand man to one of the world’s most influential people.

Now a 22-year-old student from Chicago is in North Yorkshire working side-by-side with Selby MP John Grogan, after helping newly-elected US president Barack Obama during his presidential campaign.

Aged only 18, Daniel Weber was working as an intern in the US Senate when he was asked to work alongside Mr Obama as a media associate.

Every afternoon for moire than three months, Daniel would work with Mr Obama, little knowing that he would be a part of more than 200 years of history when the 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois became the first African-American president of the United States, after winning Tuesday night’s election.

Daniel was a media intern during the time when Mr Obama was 20 points down, but the politics student said he always knew the senator would be a “big star”.

Daniel said: “I was doing a programme in Washington DC at the time as part of my studying and off the back of that I was asked if I wanted to get involved in a political campaign.

“I applied to work with Mr Obama, got accepted, then spent three months working on most afternoons with him as a media intern.

“My main job was speaking to journalists and making sure Mr Obama’s name went in the paper to get him recognised.

“I always knew he was always going to be huge.”

Daniel said it was life-changing when Mr Obama won the election on Tuesday night.

“I didn’t think he would be where he is in just four years time, but his talent has always been unmistakable,” he said.

“I think he will be the most influential president since John F Kennedy, and to have known him and have been a part of the campaign is just simply amazing.”

Daniel, a university student in South Kensington, is currently working as an assistant for Mr Grogan where he will spend the next four months.

Daniel described his current internship with Mr Grogan as “very similar” to the position he held while working for Mr Obama.

“As politicians I think they are alike,” he said.

“They both have similar dedication to their causes and they love talking direct to the people and taking suggestions on board.

“I don’t have a favourite. Both are equally enjoyable.”

Mr Grogan said: “Daniel is an integral part of the team as an intern. He helps me out on constituency matters and notions I am putting forward.

“I have a real interest in American politics so to talk to Daniel about his time with Mr Obama is extremely interesting.

“I have had interns in from all over the world, from Sweden, Canadian, Mongolia, Australia and America and each brings something new to the team.”

* Mr Obama is expected to meet President Bush soon to discuss key issues before his inauguration.