A question regarding early team building toward 08 .......

[Stinky The Clown]

Yes, I know 06 is the important thing. I have been yelling that for a long time, right along with most of you .... but I have an 08 question ..........

Have any of the presumed candidates started hiring - or at least aligning with - any of the more seasoned campaign operatives/operators? I know they all have some staff or some organization, but I'm talking about the (some waaaaaaay over the hill) heavy hitters like Carville, Shrum, Begala, Cahill, etc. (I just realized, that list I just made is probably the list of 'worst choices'.)

We know some have already announced for a run, some have hinted strongly, and some we just *know* will be running, coy non-denial denials notwithstanding. In the 08 cycle, with the field wiiiiiide open on both sides, the demand for campaign operatives will be huge. A sellers market. For me, a good leading indicator of chances for success is who has the smarts - and the bux - to engage the best ones early.

Does anyone have info on who's hired whom?

[Totally Committed]

1. I was told that Carville and Begala are already on board with Hillary...

supposedly for her "Senatorial" run, but anyone who has raised 20 million dollars isn't only running for the Senate. The info I got could be wrong, of course, but it was from a Clintonista -- so I am tending to believe it.

TC

[Stinky The Clown]

2. No surprize there, TC .......

There's a lot of mutual respect and common thinking in that group.

[Pithy Cherub]

3. Each potential nominee is already setting up a financial infrastructure.

The PAC's are designed to spend money on the 2006 candidates in order to see who raised money, appeared with the candidates as well as was the most supportive during candidates 2006 runs. This builds the foundation for the endorsement primary for the 2008 race.

The principal party fundraisers are being quietly amassed now. Hillary has her finance/fundraising team under the auspice of her 2006 senatorial campaign. Because Hillary has raised money around the country for Democrats and the local Party, she will be positioned to have heavy endorsements after 2006. Wes Clark has actively been appearing all over the country. Clark has the most gravitas on national security and foreign policy. The 2006 candidates seem to be really seeking him out. Warner hired two fundraisers from Kerry's 2004 finance team. His appearances are generating comment about him, not the 2006 candidates. 2006 will be about national security and Warner brings 0 national security creds to the table. Edwards is actively touring the country speaking on the community of the least of these and a very populist message with heavy emphasis on stops in Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden has lined up corporate donations but is not generating excitement, oh excrement-yes, excitement-no. Biden's corporate donations will be the basis for initially financing his run. Kerry has a balance or surplus remaining from 2004 that will be a launch pad. Kerry was recently in Los Angeles and part of that trip was to speak publicly on immigration and talk to private donors.

2006 is really a multiple layered political scenario. The political press is watching to see who raises money, who is sought out by 2006 candidates and who will get which endorsements. It's the foundation the MSM will use to say who has momentum and then if it turns into joementum.