It’s the Campaign, Stupid: Clinton Ground Game Under Fire
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama arrive on stage for a debate Tuesday at Cleveland State University in Ohio, their last debate before the crucial March 4 primaries. (AP Photo)
The political team that famously used the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid” to vault to victory in 1992 could be in need of a new mantra 15 years later: It’s the campaign, stupid.
Hillary Clinton has slipped from “inevitable” front-runner to second fiddle over the past two months, and political observers have chimed in with their take on what went wrong: No plan for after Super Tuesday. A poor caucus strategy. Her husband.
Leon Panetta, former White House chief of staff to Bill Clinton, is the latest Clinton loyalist to come out and criticize the campaign. And he suggests the problem was all of the above.
“It seems to me like they rolled the dice on Super Tuesday, thinking that would end it,” Panetta told The New York Observer. “And when it didn’t end it, they didn’t have a plan. And when it came to the caucus states, they did have a plan — which was to ignore them. I think those were serious mistakes.”
Since Feb. 5, when Barack Obama and Clinton ended the 22-state Super Tuesday marathon in a near-draw in terms of delegates, Obama has seized the lead in fundraising, contests won and total delegates. Clinton now is depending on a big comeback in the Ohio and Texas primaries next Tuesday, March 4, to turn the ship around.
Panetta put much of the blame on Clinton campaign strategist Mark Penn, comparing him to an old-school operative like Karl Rove who is “all about dividing people into smaller groups rather than taking the broader approach that was needed.”
He said Obama captured the desire for change in Washington, and that the call for such change was underestimated.
He also spoke cautiously about his former boss, according to the Observer, saying that Bill Clinton sometimes has “quick reactions to things” and that it’s the job of his staff to prepare him and allow him to let off steam before entering the public arena.
The former president caused a stir before the South Carolina primary by calling Obama’s opposition to the Iraq war a “fairy tale.” He also snapped at reporters on occasion.
Clinton’s superdelegates — party officials and insiders who go to the August convention free to support either candidate, regardless of their states’ primary and caucus results — have started to cross over.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that one of Clinton’s high-profile superdelegate supporters, Georgia Rep. John Lewis, is formally switching his support to Obama. That was reported in The New York Times nearly two weeks ago, but a Lewis spokesman said at the time that the decision was not final. After some confusion over what the onetime civil rights leader would do, the Georgia congressman told the Journal-Constitution that “Barack Obama has tapped into something that is extraordinary.” He cited his Atlanta district’s preference for Obama in his decision to switch loyalties.
North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan, an ally of Bill Clinton, also endorsed Obama Wednesday, citing his record on trade.
Clinton’s own campaign has started to talk with more candor about her possibilities if she doesn’t carry Ohio and Texas on Tuesday.
“If she wins those, we then go on to April 22 in Pennsylvania,” Clinton campaign national chairman Terry McAuliffe told a business group in Madison, Wis. “If we don’t, then she has to make a decision on what she’s going to do.”
Bill Clinton has made similar comments.
An article in The New York Times said Clinton is throwing the “kitchen sink” at Obama to regain her footing.
She was on the offensive Tuesday night in Cleveland at their final debate before March 4. Clinton challenged Obama on his commitment to providing universal health care and ending the war in Iraq since he was elected to the U.S. Senate. She also complained that she was frequently the first candidate asked a question by debate moderators, suggesting she feels she has been unfairly targeted by the media.
Democratic strategist and FOX News contributor Susan Estrich said the candidates ended the debate where they started.
“Whoever you were for going in, won,” she said. “There was no knockout punch and, frankly, Hillary could use a knockout punch.”
Polls show Clinton is leading in Ohio but losing ground quickly to Obama, who already has taken the lead in some Texas polls.
A Rasmussen poll taken Monday of 862 likely voters in Ohio showed Clinton with a 5-point lead over Obama, 48 to 43 percent. That’s down from a 14-point lead over the Illinois senator in a similar Rasmussen poll taken Feb. 13.
Bill Clinton told a crowd of 1,000 supporters in Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday that the polls are up in the air.
“It is a tough election and the polls go back and forth and the Gallup polls say Hillary picked up 6 points in the last three days nationwide. It’s going back and forth, back and forth,” he said.
The latest Gallup tracking poll at the time showed the candidates tied at 46 percent each. But an updated poll from Sunday through Tuesday showed Obama with 48 percent to Clinton’s 43 percent.
Penn and Clinton spokesman Phil Singer released a memo Tuesday saying they’ve developed a campaign schedule “that demonstrates and underscores Hillary’s strength and experience on the national security front and in her approach to solving our economic challenges.”
They said the campaign has 41,000 volunteers on the ground in Texas and 26,000 in Ohio. Surrogates, including Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea, are traveling across both states, as the New York senator schedules addresses on child poverty, veteran issues and the economy.
Penn told the Observer that the campaign strategy has been misunderstood.
“The campaign has been about big goals, health care, ending the Iraq war, new energy, the future,” he told the newspaper. “There was a misunderstanding that this campaign was about small things. It never was. If anything, the Obama campaign has microtargeted constituencies.”
Click here to read the article about Leon Panetta in The New York Observer.
FOX News’ Shushannah Walshe and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
As I watched the debate the other night, I had already figured out the Hillery was never going to get even treatment with the Media. When they ask Hillery a question and she gave her answer check out the times that Oboma would answer back with - - - I agree with what Sen.Clinton said. If this is the truth then why is ever one comming down so hard on Hillery and think that Obama is wonderful. Watch the body language, when he enters the room to speak he comes in claping his hands so ever one starts claping - that is an old trick. Also, when in a debate a well know intimidation stragety is — take pen and paper and take notes while the other person is talking. Obama gets his pen and paper and starts taking notes, But he never moves his pen. How can you take notes and not move your pen?? Come on people, don’t let others make up our mind. We are all intellegent enough to make up our own minds. I wonder how many have actually watched a debate and what is really going on. Do we want change?? Sure we do. Its only natural that we all want things to get better. Where are the changes going to be?? Where is the money comming from?? How many of these things he is promising can he actually do unless the other people in the White House back him?? There are very few of these things that he is promising that he can do alone as President of the USA. All I ask of any fellow American is “Think for yourself” Watch the canadites. ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ are the one that is going to prosper or things get worse — so lets be careful what we vote for.
my piece of advice to you all commentators is to recognise politicians are not perfect. they are just as human as you’re are. so before you see some poor headline about your candidate, take your time to analyse the story. use more than one source of information before you make your decision to change or stay with your candidate. remember you are not a fan your a player! additionally, fans are only interested in the outcome of the game but players are interested in both the outcome of the game and their future. you see, the outcome of the game changes the future of its players but not for the fans. therefore, friends, keep being fans and you will always stay the way you’re, stuck and broke.
For those of you who want a man in the oval office that can not name one accomplishment he has made while being a Senator…or has been involved with a Bill that made a positive change for the people…and who can not resite The Pledge of Legion to our Countries Flag due to his religion….i just dont understand why anyone would want someone like that running this country..this is a popularity contest with him…because of his race and not because of what he really knows and has done…and what he could do…it amazes me…no one is really looking at the whole picture…just that he would be the first african american to be in office…come on people do you really think He is the ONE to due right by the us….
All good comments people. But as a (R) I think Obama is your man. I’m going with McCain over here. But no matter what happens in the General, both of our partys will have made a statement with John and Barak. We are tired of the same old same old and want people that can work acrossed party lines. I finally feel like we might be turning a corner.
Say Goodbye Hillary!!!!!!!!!say goodbye its over they superdelegates are jumping ship the end is near!!!!
OBAMA.lier , the media portraits him as a saviour the media likes to have what to talk about and they are making OBAMA big , with his empty promesses and his hallow message you the people young and some old , are getting suck into this so call change change the only change will be black president that is change , and dont said I’m a discriminating becouse that what the media did to BILL CLINTON in SC they did not report what he exactlly said they pick and tell the people what they want to hear weak up people this is not plays and games how about OBAMAS wife saying for the first time in her life she is proud to be an american . what was she proud about the the other time of her life . that in itself is a big story, oh they said later she explain explain what after people start talking aboutit , and they go their way sayin sorry does not make it raight , to you all fallowers of OBAMA read about his life very close , if you dont like CLInton it is ok but dont get suck by this so call Saivior.
If Obama is the nomenee how abut form agroup DEMORATS FOR McCAIN true hero and he wil be the next president of the USA
Hey, i posted a comment yesterday and you didn’t post it.
MR wrote…”You can’t be president if you only plan for half the battle. I am sure that Obama will surround himself with the best people he can find to bring this country together and I applaud him for his graciousness toward Clinton, signs of a true leader.”
I shudder to know that Obama’s idea of the “best” people he surrounds himself with are the very kind of people that DO bring division. Not the least of which is Pastor Wright, his MENTOR, the man he seeks advice from!!
There was a German man back in 1923 that was very charismatic and convincing also.
Are we really willing to GAMBLE the future of the U.S.A. on either of these Democrats?
I am not real fond of McCain either but at least I know who’s side he is on!
Well, I’ll never have a problem with a woman president, but when it comes down to letting Bill back into the White House, my spine gets a chill. With Billslittle comments at anyone who gives a funny look at Hillary, its not doing wonders for her campaign. When people look at a president, they still think about the good that the first lady, or in this case the first man, ha, can do, which isn’t very good as many still remember. Hilliary’s at the wall, if she pushes away then good job, if not, then thank goodness.
Why is Fox News not showing/telling more about McCain. Most of the pictures and main articles are about the Democrats. Are you promoting Obama or McCain?