Jewish Obama campaign staffer, 29, collapses and dies

A 29-year-old Jewish Obama campaign staffer collapsed in the president’s campaign headquarters in Chicago and died.

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(JTA) — A 29-year-old Jewish Obama campaign staffer collapsed in the president’s campaign headquarters in Chicago and died.

Alex Okrent died on July 13. He was a member of the campaign’s advertising department, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He had worked on Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, the newspaper reported.

Obama personally 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." He also reportedly called Okrent’s family to personally express his condolences.

Police were not called to the scene because the death did not seem suspicious, according to the Chicago Tribune. The autopsy was inconclusive, and there will be further tests, the newspaper reported, citing the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. 

Okrent had been planning his next move, something less "taxing," for after the November elections, the Tribune reported.

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