ABC: Campaign in Crisis? Hillaryland Tensions

[JackORoses]

After losing eight straight presidential nominating contests, campaign staff shake-ups, and fundraising problems last month, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign is facing tension within its ranks.

Numerous Clinton campaign insiders tell ABC News there is unhappiness inside the Virginia headquarters right now, with staffers aligning themselves into factions.

One source said there is "increasing frustration" with Mark Penn, Clinton's campaign strategist and pollster, and the closest thing to a Karl Rove-type figure within the campaign.

Some are unhappy that former Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle was replaced last weekend with Maggie Williams, the senator's former White House chief of staff.

Clinton's deputy campaign director Mike Henry, who was loyal to Solis Doyle, resigned from the campaign Monday, writing in his farewell letter to the staff that he was stepping aside out of respect for the "new leadership team."

Two other staffers from the campaign's Internet operation have also left the campaign this week.

Overall, there is a sense of melancholy in the Clinton campaign, and among some a "lack of confidence" in leadership

....

Clinton campaign insiders confirm that when campaign advisers gathered at headquarters last week to preview a television commercial called "Free Fall" — this is the scene that unfolded, as first reported in today's Wall Street Journal:

"Your ad doesn't work," Penn said to ad maker Mandy Grunwald.

Grunwald fired back that the problem was maybe his message, not the ad.

The clash got so heated that political director Guy Cecil left the room, saying, "I'm out of here." the Wall Street Journal reported this morning.

Clinton campaign insiders tell ABC News the shouting match happened as reported, and while this was an extraordinarily heated exchange, it's not uncommon for Penn and Grunwald to bicker.

"They're constantly at each other's throats," said one campaign source.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4292020&page=1

***

'a lack of confidence in leadership'

This is exactly what Hillary would engender as a President.

Why is this not obvious to all?

[Alexander]

1. You can tell her campaign's tanking. The attacks on Obama here have gotten crazier.

[JackORoses]

2. exactly. for days the Hillarites have lain low through defeat after defeat.

Now that their Master has sent them the new marching/screaching orders, they are out in force.

Thank god for the 3 thread limit. Otherwise, every thread on the front page would either be "Hillary wins New Mexico!" or "Hillary's Back, she leads in OH and PA polls!"

[grantcart]

8. as predicted we are now officially in stage V

Stage I When you do not have the best position on the war - prevaricate

Stage II When you do not have the clear voice of leadership - triangulate

Stage III When you do not have the momentum - trivialize the election just lost

Stage IV When you do not have anywhere to go - instigate a smear on the supporters as unthinking cultists

Stage V When the supporters embrace the slur and turn it around - start backing up the dump truck and release a load
against the leader who has sparked a fire across the country.

Stage VI When this desperate tactic is reviled - step aside as the great locomotive of history barrels by you and you turn to watch history pass you by.

[ellisonz]

15. You win.

[David Zephyr]

3. See. Hillary is not divisive...not divisive at all. Groan.

You don't see any of this shit in Obama's camapaign.

What a bunch of self-stroking babies.

[Skidmore]

6. Hillary is not a leader.

Hillary is not a manager. If she cannot manage her campaign or its finances, then the nation does not need her at this time. We need someone who is together and can get down to business without a bunch of adolescent bickering among the staff. We've had almost 8 years of that kind of crap. Look where it has gotten us.

[Stephanie]

10. She's not a leader. She can't even lead her campaign staff.

She can't even manage a $140M budget. She can't keep her campaign advisors off each other's throats. It rots from the top down.

[sniffa]

4. Damn

It's becoming more and more obvious everyday - and the general public is starting to notice thanks to the liberal media.

[LSparkle]

5. She's as bad as Bush in having no "Plan B"

She (and her campaign) thought she'd put him away on February 5. She had no "Plan B." We don't need ANOTHER president who has no foresight for when things don't go "as planned."

[K Gardner]

7. She should hire those posters at DU who aren't already working for her ! There's no dissention

here.. they're ALL delusional and happy !

[psychopomp]

9. What *is* the new strategy?

I have seen "Ready on Day 1" signs in the photos from her recent rally, is it back to that slogan? Because it sure doesn't look like the Clinton campaign is ready now...they might be ready on day one for the campaign, finally.

[Stephanie]

13. Oh, I thought it was "SOLUTIONS"

So catchy.

[psychopomp]

20. I used to work in Silicon Valley

In the 1990's, it was all about "solutions" of one kind or another. "Filing solutions," resume-writing "solutions," etc.

[Capn Sunshine]

11. Ready on day one?

for what ? All hell breaking loose?

BTW Clinton Admin 1 was known for their lack of preparedness, unaware of what was required before getting staff in place. It was pandemonium for about 3 months.

[BeyondGeography]

14. Ready on Day One, take 2

[IndianaGreen]

24. Bill Clinton is ready on day one.... to chase skirts around the White House

Our boy won't let us down with his insatiable appetite for sexual conquest.

[Barack_America]

12. If you can't run a campaign...

How the hell are you going to run a country?

This is not a slam. This is a serious concern and a true weakness. Look for the GOP to run with this should she get the nomination.

[Faygo Kid]

16. You can sure feel the tension of the Hillary backers around here.

A few are coming unhinged. The attacks are increasingly over the top.

I don't know what's going to happen in this election. It isn't over yet. But the Hillary backers are really angry at there even being an election instead of a coronation, and it's showing.

[HooptieWagon]

23. If posts could be recc'd, I'd recc this one.

[Faygo Kid]

26. If I had any hearts left, I would recommend this one.

Thank you, my friend.

[mculator]

17. yawn

lets not forget Obama is a neophyte... have a little faith, he'll screw it up

[Stephanie]

18. "Overall, there is a sense of melancholy in the Clinton campaign"

:rofl:


"Overall, there is a sense of melancholy in the Clinton campaign, and among some a "lack of confidence" in leadership. "

[Diane R]

19. Dear God. Can we really afford to have these people in charge of our country?

If you support Hillary, please take a moment to really think about this. She can't run a campaign, she can't ride herd on her staff. She can't control her husband. Don't we have enough problems in the world without depending on dysfunctional people to make important decisions?

[Colobo]

21. They can't run a campaign. How can they pretend to run the White House?

[JackORoses]

22. we have had actors on the national stage for the past 28 years

It's time to get a real human being back in the White House.

[Abacus]

25. Wow,

this is exactly what I've expected a Hillary Clinton presidency would be like; I didn't think we'd get a glimpse so soon.

[Stephanie]

27. We haven't seen the half of it.

Eventually they're going to have to release their financial records and that is going to be a can of worms.