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Does Clinton Need To Retool? Nah, Just Pump Up the Negative

On a conference call with reporters on Wednesday morning, Howard Wolfson, Hillary Clinton's communications director, was asked if within the Clinton camp there was any sense that the campaign needs to "retool or overhaul." The answer: no. In fact, throughout the call, Wolfson and Mark Penn, Clinton's chief strategist, showed no signs of any shifting. Instead, they signaled that the campaign's gameplan is to continue to pound away at Obama. Wolfson pushed two points: Obama "lifted" portions of a speech from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Obama seems to be backing out of a promise to participate in the public campaign finance system (and thus live within a spending limit) in the general election. "He's running on the power of his oratory and the strength of his promises," Wolfson said. Yet, he asserted, Obama's oratory is plagiarized and his promises are broken.

The problem: the Clinton campaign threw all this (and much more) at Obama before Wisconsin, and it didn't stick. Perhaps Clinton and her aides believe they have to pump up the volume on the attacks to have a fighting chance in Ohio and Texas on March 4.

Why do they believe they can triumph in those states? Wolfson and Penn were asked. "Growing scrutiny," Wolfson replied, is being paid to Obama--by the media, by the Republican Party, and by Senator John McCain, the likely GOP nominee. In other words, Obama's due for a fall--eventually. And the Clinton people will do what they can to bring about such change before Ohio and Texas. Their strategy appears to be to help tear him down, rather than find a better way to lift her up. The race got nasty before Wisconsin--and it looks as if it's going to get nastier.






Comments

Leave it to the Clinton camp. Typical, and exactly the kind of thing pushing many voters away from Billary and pulling them toward Obama.

Posted by: TK on 02/20/08 at 10:31 AM  Respond

I know coordinating with a 527 can be illegal but is it also odd that the HRC camp and the GOP are parroting the same talking points?

On HRC's vast experience (opednews):

[...]

In her first six years she managed to author and pass into law 20 pieces of legislation. These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress, but to save us the trouble of looking them up, she listed them.

1- Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2- Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3- Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4- Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5- Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6- Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7- Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8- Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9- Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10- Congratulate the Syracuse University Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11- Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12- Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13- Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14- Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15- Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.

If we want to be brutally honest, with the exceptions of three items, numbers two, seven and eight, the merits of which are questionable, the rest aren't worth squat.

Posted by: capt on 02/20/08 at 10:57 AM  Respond

Yet another example of the divisive politics that the Clintons specialize in - and which, based on Obama's success in the primaries, the public clearly wants no part of. Let's hope that Obama takes the high road and refrains from returning the mudslinging.

It's unfortunate that the GOP couldn't put up a viable competitor to McCain, because now Obama is taking hits from two sides - from both Clinton and McCain.

Posted by: Pete on 02/20/08 at 1:45 PM  Respond

What about the other 5? I wonder if they are as important as the 15, she's listed. Kinda makes a person wonder if she's given the Country it's money's worth

Posted by: Nebraskan on 02/22/08 at 6:51 AM  Respond

1st comment says it perfect. Hillary could not expose herself any better, looking at her apparently false compliment to Obama at end of last debate and her venemous attacks. She only needs to watch video of herself to see what we the public see in her. It's too late for her she's exposed herself.

Posted by: KAK on 02/26/08 at 8:16 AM  Respond

I for 1 will never believe that HRC was a viable option in the 1st place. Other than marrying a 1st rate opportunist, there truly is nothing appealing about her at all. She's comes off as just as big a phony as her husband did. Boy how I miss John and Elizabeth Edwards!!!

HRC and the MSM pundits drone on and on about Obama's oratory skills and that his ability and way with words do not make him a viable option. Excuse me? How many people voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 because they heard him speak and believed in the words he was saying? I recall reading reports where even the most cynical reporters would be swayed by his words.

It might be a bit eccentric to say, but I would much rather see a person that has full command of the English language, listens to questions, can think them through, and can make an intelligent, well-crafted response as our commander-in-chief. I believe BHO has that ability on many more levels than HRC. It would be such an improvement over the dim bulb we had had the last 7+ years.

Posted by: buzzbike on 02/27/08 at 7:31 AM  Respond

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