Obama sees immigration reform as "legacy item," says David Axelrod

President Barack Obama wants to sign an immigration reform bill–and sees it as a “legacy item,” David Axelrod said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Axelrod, a former Obama top advisor who is a NBC News analyst, told guest host Chuck Todd Republicans are wrong if they suspect that Obama wants the issue more than the accomplishment.

“Well, I understand their paranoia because it was a terribly difficult issue for them and continues to be. He wants this accomplishment. This is a legacy item for him. There is no doubt in my mind that he wants to pass comprehensive immigration reform,” Axelrod said.

A bi-partisan group of eight senators–including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) are negotiating a measure they hope to present to their colleagues in the coming weeks with the broad strokes to be ready as early as next week. The GOP-controlled House is waiting for the Democratic-run Senate to act first on immigration.

“I think we’ve got a deal,” Sen. Lindsey Grahman (R-S.C.) one of the eight, told CNN’s Candy Crowley, host of “State of the Union.” Not all eight have signed off yet — but a big hurdle has been crossed, getting business and labor agreement.