HALPERIN'S TAKE: Who Is Harold Ickes?

Long-time Democratic operative Harold Ickes has been associated with the Clintons for years.  Speculation that with the change over from Patti Solis Doyle to Maggie Williams, Ickes will become more influential in the campaign is silly.  Ickes has been working side by side with Solis Doyle for months.  He has played a huge role in many of the most important aspects of the campaign, including the recruitment of superdelegates that is at the heart of Clinton's strategy.  Because Ickes has no interest in the limelight, he has stayed behind the scenes.  But make no mistake: he is wily and tough and a master of the Democratic Party rules that could determine who wins.