Axelrod: Obama Was ‘Unwavering’ on Gay Marriage; Being Against it ‘Frustrated’ Him

AXELROD: "What you regret is that people take stuff of context and cast it as cynical. The fact is he was never -- he was unwavering in his view that there should be equal rights. He was recognized -- in fact, there was great resistance in the religious community. He tried to square that with the Civil Union proposal, leave all legal rights for gay couples, and he was increasingly frustrated with having to take that position, and ultimately said to us, 'Hey, I'm not saying that. I think it's time to take the next step.'"

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VANDEHEI: "What is the biggest misconception about him? What was something that you see behind the scenes and you are saying, 'Gee, the way the public looks at it is so disconnected from the reality.'"

AXELROD: "Well, this notion of aloofness, of coldness, I don’t see that at all. We've been friends for over 20 years and so many of our conversations are about family, are about different struggles and concerns that are more personal. Whenever I've had difficulties in my life he's been there for me. When I was in the White House in one of those stories that we were talking about before, when I was the focus of them, he would be first guy to come in, to flop down on the couch, and say, 'Don't let the bustards get you down.' So I consider him a great and warm friend. I think most of the people who know him personally do, so that I think is a great misconception about him."