Politico: Obama team remains unshaken and unstirred

[DemsUnited]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9891.html

By CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN | 4/27/08 7:48 AM EST

After Sen. Barack Obama’s third major primary loss and endless media coverage dedicated to dissecting the apparent weaknesses of his candidacy, one of the most striking elements of his campaign this week was what’s missing: Any hint of internal upheaval.

At Obama headquarters in Chicago, hundreds of miles removed from the Beltway bubble, advisers held steadfast in their adherence to The Plan, a blueprint devised 15 months ago by the same inner circle that runs the campaign today, supported by the candidate and carried out by a tight-knit staff.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s operation could not be more dissimilar. Her campaign, ensconced in a Washington suburb, has experienced two major staff shakeups fueled by high-level staff rivalries, shifting strategies and an unusual degree of finger-pointing.

The contrast raises the question: How has the Obama campaign managed to maintain an island of comparative calm?

A winning record undoubtedly aids the cohesion, Obama advisers and unaffiliated Democratic strategists said, but so do other key dynamics: A candidate intolerant of infighting, a clear line of authority and a healthy distance from the city they want to take over.

Good article, worth a read.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Obama has an A Team

Hillary's B Team

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Of Course - It's Over, They've Won The Nomination

And their opponent in the GE is insane, and promises to follow the policies of the most hated president in history. Sounds like the catbird seat to me!

[Pirate Smile]

3. “There are no assholes,” Axelrod responded. “There are going to be no assholes on this campaign.”

I liked this:

“You gotta come spend a little more time with Barack,” Axelrod told him.

“You know what these things are like,” Margolis said.

“There are no assholes,” Axelrod responded. “There are going to be no assholes on this campaign.”

[marylanddem]

4. I think all the a**holes gravitated to the other campaign.

[me b zola]

5. That would explain all of the nasty, smelly stuff coming from that campaign

:hurts:

[Exilednight]

13. Mark Penn, anyone, anyone?

:rofl:

[FrenchieCat]

21. Loved that a**hole line!

[EFerrari]

6. That's fascinating. I wonder if and hope it is true.

[Window]

7. K/R.

:kick:

[backscatter712]

8. This is why Obama will win.

Obama has his shit together. He had it together from the start when he hired people like Axelrod - he surrounds himself with competent experts instead of sycophants and parasites. They knew they weren't going to win every state. They knew Pennsylvania was going to be rough, but they made their plan, and they're sticking with it. They're honestly reexamining themselves and changing tactics when things get screwed up, but they're not going to backstab each other, expend energy on recriminations or waste time crying over what wasn't going to happen. They focus on where they can make a difference, and they get on task and take the campaign to victory.

[Labors of Hercules]

9. Even here on the ground in NC...

You can see an amazing level of intelligence and efficiency in the field office operations. the staffers that have come in just over the past couple of weeks have shown incredible skill in working with the volunteers that were already here. They have been fantastic.

Obama will be here Tomorrow! Gotta Go... :hi:

[DemsUnited]

12. Keep us posted about what it's like on the ground if you have a

chance!

[Scurrilous]

10. K & R

:thumbsup:

[noel711]

11. The ZEN of campaigning... Did I really say that?

That'll cause another 'religious' scare...

I thought he was Muslim..

I thought he was a whack-a-doodle, left winger, black radical so-called 'christian'..

Zen?

[TragedyandHope]

14. Yes We Can!

[DeepModem Mom]

15. K&R

[kenny blankenship]

16. Sounds like a President!

[quantass]

17. Political History Books will remember Obama and his Classic A-Team for Students to study for YEARS!

[FrenchieCat]

18. Yes they will!

And they'll have even more to write when he conducts his re-election campaign! :)

[BlooInBloo]

19. Is he a fucking martini now?

[FrenchieCat]

20. Now, that's Elitist!

:rofl:

But hey, who wouldn't want 007 taking care of business after 8 long years of that other guy? :shrug: