"He was basically like a coach for this team of strong personalities, and he was like a nice coach," said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, who was deputy campaign manager and issues director in 2000.
Ms. Raab, a lawyer who was issues director in Mr. Giuliani's unsuccessful 1989 campaign for mayor, has remained close to Mr. Giuliani, who appointed her to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Mr. Bolten, who was the issues director of Mr. Bush's presidential campaign, graduated from St. Albans, the exclusive private boys' school in Washington, and Princeton and Stanford Law School.
Robert Goldenkoff, the office's strategic issues director, said Friday before a Congressional hearing in Los Angeles that the Paper Based Operations Control System had not demonstrated the ability to meet peak requirements as it sought to count residents who did not return census forms by mail.
Ms. Raab, who was issues director for Mr. Giuliani's 1989 mayoral campaign, is pressing hard for the position, and aides to Mr. Giuliani and Governor Pataki have talked to many of the trustees about supporting her, according to trustees who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"This report proves Shell has had a terrible impact in Nigeria, but has got away with denying it for decades, falsely claiming they work to best international standards," said Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty's global issues director, said.
