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Harry Dope
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Campaign call reveals Clinton debate concern
By Sam Youngman
November 01, 2007
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) top advisers, doing damage
control after the candidate's debate performance Tuesday, told supporters on
a conference call Wednesday that the campaign needed more money to fight
back.
Mark Penn, Clinton's senior strategist and pollster, and Jonathan
Mantz, the campaign's finance director, told the supporters on the call,
which The Hill listened to in its entirety, that they expect attacks from
Clinton's rivals to continue, and she will need the financial resources to
deflect their attacks.
Clinton came under withering assault in the Philadelphia debate, and
some supporters on the call agreed with analysts that she stumbled.
"I wouldn't say she lost her cool," one caller said. "But I would say
she lost her footing."
The caller addded that Clinton's response to questions about records
from her time in the White House that have been sealed by the National
Archives "made me roll my eyes."
The criticisms followed Penn's assertion that Clinton was
"unflappable." He also said criticisms from Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and
former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) would backfire and that he was already
"detecting some backlash," particularly among female voters.
Those female voters are saying, "Sen. Clinton needs our support now
more than ever if we're going to see this six-on-one to try to bring her
down," Penn told those on the campaign call.
He, Mantz and several supporters hinted repeatedly on the call that
Clinton was unfairly targeted by Tim Russert, debate moderator and host of
NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Russert made it appear that President Clinton had done something new
or unusual," Penn said, before adding that it "is, in fact, an extremely
confusing situation . I think there will be further clarification."
"I hope so," a female caller responded. "To me, it was the most
uncomfortable part of the debate."
Penn turned again to Russert. "The other candidates were asked
questions like, 'Is there life in outer space?' "
The object of the call, and a follow-up breakfast Thursday morning
with campaign chairman and former chairman of the Democratic National
Committee (DNC) Terry McAuliffe, was apparently to stop whatever bleeding
the senator might have sustained during a debate in which Clinton wore a
bull's-eye on her back throughout the evening.
Penn and Mantz said "a new phase" in the campaign had begun with about
65 days to go before the Iowa caucuses. They expect Obama and Edwards to go
"negative on TV, and we're going to need the resources to fight that front."
While one supporter voiced his concern that the Clinton campaign is
not devoting enough money and staff to Iowa, lagging behind Obama, most
supporters who commented on the call expressed their displeasure with what
they saw as the moderators' focus on Clinton.
One caller from Oklahoma City said that "the questions . were designed
to incite a brawl," and that Russert's and Brian Williams's moderating was
"an abdication of journalistic responsibility."
Another said Russert "should be shot," before quickly adding that she
shouldn't say that on a conference call.
Penn and Mantz said they were hearing a lot of the same sentiment from
other supporters, but they do not plan to engage the media or the debate's
moderators.
"We're not challenging the media on that, but the sentiment you've
expressed is obviously one I've heard," Penn said.
Penn added that he conducted polling before and after the debate - a
focus group, perhaps - that saw Clinton as the winner. Sen. Joseph Biden
(Del.) "had a good night" and John Edwards "did better," Penn said, though
he added Edwards's numbers have been going down. "Obama did not have a
particularly good night," Penn said.
Those results diverge sharply from the assessment of most analysts who
watched the debate, and thought Clinton did poorly. Her campaign appeared to
be in full damage-control mode Wednesday.
It received a big boost at midday when Clinton received the coveted
endorsement of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME).
Gerald McEntee, AFSCME's president, mentioned the debate during his
endorsement speech, and took Penn's and Mantz's view of the results.
"Some of you may have seen last night's debate," McEntee said. "Six
guys against Hillary, and I'd call that a fair fight. This is a strong
woman."
Obama and Edwards continued their assault throughout the day, trying
to capitalize on the first chink in Clinton's armor that they have seen in
months.
In a memo from the Obama campaign, spokesman Bill Burton said Clinton
"offered more of the same Washington political calculation and evasion that
won't bring the change America needs."
"The 'politics of hope' doesn't mean hoping you don't have to answer
tough questions," Burton wrote.
Burton wrote that Clinton dodged questions on Social Security, Iran
and the National Archives issue. And on one of the more talked-about moments
from the end of the debate, Clinton's position on a move by New York Gov.
Eliot Spitzer (D) to grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens, Burton said,
"Twelve hours after the debate ended, the American people are still waiting
for an answer on Sen. Clinton's position . She didn't answer the question in
the debate and her campaign couldn't answer it afterwards."
In Wednesday's conference call, Penn said Clinton "clarified that she
does support governors like Gov. Spitzer" who are faced with the issue
because of the federal government's failure to offer comprehensive
immigration reform.
The Edwards campaign, apparently referring to the AFSCME endorsement,
said Clinton was "trying to change the subject after losing a debate."
Clinton drew fire throughout the day from the Republican National
Committee, which sent around a compilation of negative press releases from
state Republican parties in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California.
Two conservative bloggers filed a complaint with the FEC charging that
Clinton had engaged in questionable, and possibly illegal, fundraising
practices.
The Clinton campaign released a video Wednesday, entitled "The
Politics of Pile On," showing clips of the senator's rivals going after her
by name during the debate.
The senator did not appear ready to surrender Wednesday, though. When
accepting the AFSCME endorsement, Clinton handed McEntee a pair of boxing
gloves.
"When it comes to fighting for America's working families, I'll go 10
rounds with anybody," she said.
--
"The Clintons Are A Terminally Unethical And Vulgar Couple, And They?ve
Betrayed Everyone Who Has Ever Believed In Them." - Bob Herbert, Columnist
NY Times Clinton
By Sam Youngman
November 01, 2007
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) top advisers, doing damage
control after the candidate's debate performance Tuesday, told supporters on
a conference call Wednesday that the campaign needed more money to fight
back.
Mark Penn, Clinton's senior strategist and pollster, and Jonathan
Mantz, the campaign's finance director, told the supporters on the call,
which The Hill listened to in its entirety, that they expect attacks from
Clinton's rivals to continue, and she will need the financial resources to
deflect their attacks.
Clinton came under withering assault in the Philadelphia debate, and
some supporters on the call agreed with analysts that she stumbled.
"I wouldn't say she lost her cool," one caller said. "But I would say
she lost her footing."
The caller addded that Clinton's response to questions about records
from her time in the White House that have been sealed by the National
Archives "made me roll my eyes."
The criticisms followed Penn's assertion that Clinton was
"unflappable." He also said criticisms from Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and
former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) would backfire and that he was already
"detecting some backlash," particularly among female voters.
Those female voters are saying, "Sen. Clinton needs our support now
more than ever if we're going to see this six-on-one to try to bring her
down," Penn told those on the campaign call.
He, Mantz and several supporters hinted repeatedly on the call that
Clinton was unfairly targeted by Tim Russert, debate moderator and host of
NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Russert made it appear that President Clinton had done something new
or unusual," Penn said, before adding that it "is, in fact, an extremely
confusing situation . I think there will be further clarification."
"I hope so," a female caller responded. "To me, it was the most
uncomfortable part of the debate."
Penn turned again to Russert. "The other candidates were asked
questions like, 'Is there life in outer space?' "
The object of the call, and a follow-up breakfast Thursday morning
with campaign chairman and former chairman of the Democratic National
Committee (DNC) Terry McAuliffe, was apparently to stop whatever bleeding
the senator might have sustained during a debate in which Clinton wore a
bull's-eye on her back throughout the evening.
Penn and Mantz said "a new phase" in the campaign had begun with about
65 days to go before the Iowa caucuses. They expect Obama and Edwards to go
"negative on TV, and we're going to need the resources to fight that front."
While one supporter voiced his concern that the Clinton campaign is
not devoting enough money and staff to Iowa, lagging behind Obama, most
supporters who commented on the call expressed their displeasure with what
they saw as the moderators' focus on Clinton.
One caller from Oklahoma City said that "the questions . were designed
to incite a brawl," and that Russert's and Brian Williams's moderating was
"an abdication of journalistic responsibility."
Another said Russert "should be shot," before quickly adding that she
shouldn't say that on a conference call.
Penn and Mantz said they were hearing a lot of the same sentiment from
other supporters, but they do not plan to engage the media or the debate's
moderators.
"We're not challenging the media on that, but the sentiment you've
expressed is obviously one I've heard," Penn said.
Penn added that he conducted polling before and after the debate - a
focus group, perhaps - that saw Clinton as the winner. Sen. Joseph Biden
(Del.) "had a good night" and John Edwards "did better," Penn said, though
he added Edwards's numbers have been going down. "Obama did not have a
particularly good night," Penn said.
Those results diverge sharply from the assessment of most analysts who
watched the debate, and thought Clinton did poorly. Her campaign appeared to
be in full damage-control mode Wednesday.
It received a big boost at midday when Clinton received the coveted
endorsement of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME).
Gerald McEntee, AFSCME's president, mentioned the debate during his
endorsement speech, and took Penn's and Mantz's view of the results.
"Some of you may have seen last night's debate," McEntee said. "Six
guys against Hillary, and I'd call that a fair fight. This is a strong
woman."
Obama and Edwards continued their assault throughout the day, trying
to capitalize on the first chink in Clinton's armor that they have seen in
months.
In a memo from the Obama campaign, spokesman Bill Burton said Clinton
"offered more of the same Washington political calculation and evasion that
won't bring the change America needs."
"The 'politics of hope' doesn't mean hoping you don't have to answer
tough questions," Burton wrote.
Burton wrote that Clinton dodged questions on Social Security, Iran
and the National Archives issue. And on one of the more talked-about moments
from the end of the debate, Clinton's position on a move by New York Gov.
Eliot Spitzer (D) to grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens, Burton said,
"Twelve hours after the debate ended, the American people are still waiting
for an answer on Sen. Clinton's position . She didn't answer the question in
the debate and her campaign couldn't answer it afterwards."
In Wednesday's conference call, Penn said Clinton "clarified that she
does support governors like Gov. Spitzer" who are faced with the issue
because of the federal government's failure to offer comprehensive
immigration reform.
The Edwards campaign, apparently referring to the AFSCME endorsement,
said Clinton was "trying to change the subject after losing a debate."
Clinton drew fire throughout the day from the Republican National
Committee, which sent around a compilation of negative press releases from
state Republican parties in Texas, Florida, Georgia and California.
Two conservative bloggers filed a complaint with the FEC charging that
Clinton had engaged in questionable, and possibly illegal, fundraising
practices.
The Clinton campaign released a video Wednesday, entitled "The
Politics of Pile On," showing clips of the senator's rivals going after her
by name during the debate.
The senator did not appear ready to surrender Wednesday, though. When
accepting the AFSCME endorsement, Clinton handed McEntee a pair of boxing
gloves.
"When it comes to fighting for America's working families, I'll go 10
rounds with anybody," she said.
--
"The Clintons Are A Terminally Unethical And Vulgar Couple, And They?ve
Betrayed Everyone Who Has Ever Believed In Them." - Bob Herbert, Columnist
NY Times Clinton
