Posted on 04/14/2008 11:41:30 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Can it be a coincidence that just hours after Bob Novak published his column reporting that it's unclear just who is directing Hillary's campaign--Mark Penn or Geoff Garin--the latter dashed off an email to supporters claiming to be in charge? But if Garin really does have the reins, why is the campaign employing tactics that Novak suggests would be worthy of the "kamikaze" Penn?
Writes Novak:
Immediately after Mark Penn resigned as Hillary Clinton's chief strategist a week ago, he was on the phone with at least two prominent Democrats to assure them that nothing had changed. He said that -- though lacking a title now -- he still was polling and crafting her message, adding that he had just participated in a top-level conference call. De facto retention of Penn signified a desire to defeat Barack Obama at any cost.
One day later, word was spread in Democratic circles that Geoff Garin, hired as a pollster by Sen. Clinton last month, had supplanted Penn as chief strategist. An experienced political practitioner renowned for ethical standards more than imagination or daring, Garin in charge reassured the party faithful. It was interpreted as ruling out an eleventh-hour assault on Obama that would have less chance of nominating Clinton than wrecking the party.
Is Penn deceiving friends about his real status just to save face? Or is Garin merely a figurehead to take the heat off Clinton while she still relies on the contentious Penn?
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...
Hillary campaign internal catfight ping to Today show list.
Sit back and enjoy the internecine warfare.
With HilLIARy who can tell the difference?
Harold Ickes. Penn is way too nice, relatively speaking.
Never did like Sean Penn (sarc)...
I suspect that if word hadn’t leaked of Penn’s meetings with the Columbians re free trade (that Hillary is fighting), he’s still bein that position. But Hillary had to take SOME action to show she’s running things. So you fire him, but keep him on as a silent consultant (and keep him from stepping over to Obama’s camp).
“...and how many pollsters can dance at the head of the campaign?”
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