Weigel

Funny thing: The Obama campaign summons a select group of reporters to a briefing on 2012 strategy, and this is the quote that everybody runs with: "Just remember the higher a monkey climbs on a pole, the more you can see his butt." (Image from Google News.)

The quote was Axelrod citing Ald. Dick Mell, who, not unique among Chicago Democrats, has a way with words. It answers a need that I've heard a couple of Democrats worry about, if somewhat sarcastically. That need: Blurring the lines a little bit, so it's not completely obvious that Democrats would rather run against Gingrich than Romney.