Reggie Love: The man who makes the Obama campaign tick

January 31, 2008, Los Angeles, California: Barack Obama with his trip director Marvin Nicholson (l) and personal assistant Reggie Love (r) Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

July 13, 2008, San Diego, California: Barack Obama, enters an interview room after speaking at the National Council of La Raza Convention in San Diego. People magazine named Love one of America's most eligible bachelors, a title that he would not dispute Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

Fabruary 20, 2005, Durham, North Carolina: Reggie Love playing for the Duke Blue Devils against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Obama likes to say that he lives vicariously through Love, trapped as he is inside the restraints of a presidential candidate's life Photograph: Craig Jones/Getty

June 19, 2008, Washington DC: Barack Obama talks with Reggie Love, on his campaign charter plane before takeoff in Washington Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP

March 20, 2005, Charlotte, North Carolina: Reggie Love playing for the Duke Blue Devils against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Love remains the best basketball player on Team Obama, one of a handful of the candidate's regular teammates who play Photograph: Streeter Lecka /Getty

June 17, 2008, Romulus, Michigan: Body men and women have nothing to do with security - that is handled by the Secret Service - and everything to do with the immediate needs of the candidate Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP

March 3, 2008, San Antonio, Texas: Obama and Love at a town hall meeting with veterans at the American GI Forum. Reggie carries the candidate's pens, snacks and drinks, and an endless supply of chewing gum (Dentyne and Nicorette) Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP

May 2, 2008, Charlotte, North Carolina: In his hometown of Charlotte, Love is something of a college legend. At this rally, Obama called him on stage and led the crowd in a chant of his name. Then he gave him his jacket to carry off stage Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP