(CNN) – President Barack Obama on Friday called the family of a campaign staffer who collapsed in the Chicago headquarters and later died, Obama's campaign said.
The staffer, 29-year-old Alex Okrent, worked in the campaign's advertising department, the Chicago Sun-Times said in a report, which campaign officials acknowledged was accurate.
The president offered his condolences to Okrent's family and spoke with other members of his campaign staff in a conference call, his campaign said.
Obama was campaigning in Virginia on Friday.
Okrent had worked on Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, the Sun-Times report said.
on Friday evening, Obama tweeted, "A beloved member of our campaign family, Alex Okrent, passed away today. Our prayers are with his loved ones. We will miss you, Alex. -bo." Obama's organization has said the initials indicate the tweet is from the president.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann Romney, acknowledged Okrent in a tweet after the news emerged.
“Ann & I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alex Okrent,” he tweeted. “Prayers are with Alex’s loved ones and the entire Obama campaign team.”
David Axlerod, a senior adviser to Obama’s campaign, tweeted in reply to Romney: “Thank you, governor. Alex was a beloved member of our team. It's been a very emotional day.”
No further details were immediately available.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Sad news r.i.p Alex.
Way too young. I'm sure there are many devastated people in Chicago and I am sorry for their grief.
RIP, Alex
My condolences to the family of Alex Okrent. We should honor him by acting civil to each other like the two campaigns did here. This is what America is all about, caring for one another.
Peace be upon you dude. You had a noble struggle.
how sad and so young. Today it seems we parents have to worry more about our children than ourselves. COndolences to his family, friends and all the Obama campaign staff, What a shock. God Bless!
SORRY @ Team Obama!!!
my condolences........
Politics don't really matter now, do they? 29 is far too young to die. May he be at peace and condolences to his family. Very sad and troubling for his parents to lose their son.
The son of a friend of mine recently unexpectedly collapsed and died; turned out to be a previously-undiagnosed heart condition. My condolences to Okrent's family, friends and the entire Obama team.
This is truly a sad day. I, as a parent could not fathom any one of my children going before me. My thoughts are with this young mans family, the Obama Campaign staff and the rest of his friends. Peace be with you!
29 years old...so young...may he rest in peace.
Condolences to the families.. not like they know me.. but I am reading this, and it is never good when such a young life is ended so suddenly.
Deeply sadenned
I really did not expect Romney to have the humanity to express condolences. I am glad that he did. Now, Mitt, how about those SEC papers?
Though I'm not an Obama suporter but I am saddened by the news. 29 is way to young to die. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
That is so sad...to young.
He died doing what he believed in, and I hold him in the highest respect. My condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
Good on Romney to rise above politics and pay his respects to Mr. Okrent. Even if you disagree with his politics you have to respect him for that.
So someone has to die before American politions have a respectful exchange. 29, way to young. very sad.
this job obviously was hard on the young man REALLY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS MY CONDOLENCES
Rest in peace, young man.
God bless his family and the Obama team this is sad day for us that supportting Obama .
Scary to hear of a young person die suddenly. And not from an accident, but from something to do with health. Makes you realize that anything can happen to any of us...at any time.
May God keep you young man.
I worked with Alex in Oregon on Obama's '08 Primary race. He was intensely driven and passionate about the candidate...and campaign. He was a rising young star in the political world and will be sorely missed.