Clinton Campaign Has First Shake-Up
EmailABC’s Kate Snow, Teddy Davis and Mark Halperin report: Even before polls closed in New Hampshire, there was a top-level shake up in the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Maggie Williams, Clinton’s former chief of staff when she was First Lady and a long time Clinton confidante, will be taking the reins at the campaign and be in charge of day to day operations.
ABC political contributor Matthew Dowd and a longtime campaign strategist, says he expects Maggie Williams to make signfiicant, noticable changes in the Clinton campaign very quickly.
"One thing I would expect is she will change the way the campaign deals with the press. I would expect the press to have much more access to Hillary Clinton," Dowd said.
It is unclear who, if anyone, will be departing the Clinton campaign’s top ranks as Williams arrives. In recent days, since the stinging loss in the Iowa Caucus, there have been rumors that Patti Solis Doyle, campaign manager, and Mark Penn, campaign pollster, might be departing.
There were reports earlier in the day that perhaps the Clintons would turn to oldfriends like James Carville and Paul Begala for help.
However Carville told ABC News from Houston by telephone that he hasn’t been tapped.
"I am not joining the campaign," Carville said, "I have had no discussions with them about that."
When reached by ABC News, Begala emphatically said he is not, and will not, be joining the Clinton campaign as an adviser. He also said that he will not be joining the Clinton campaign in an unpaid role.
"It’s not going to happen. I’m not being cute here," Begala told ABC News. Begala says that he has not been asked by the Clinton campaign because they know that he has commitments that would prevent him from doing so.
Campaign officials who asked to remain anonymous told ABC News that after the Iowa caucuses, former President Bill Clinton was fuming. "You could see him firing people in his head," said one Clinton campaign staffer. However he knew it wouldn’t look good to make changes after Iowa with just five days to go until the New Hampshire vote.
Penn’s future remained unclear today, despite his being a longtime ally of the former president. President Clinton defended him when a Dartmouth student asked yesterday how Penn could have possibly said that there was no "bounce" for Obama coming out of Iowa.
"He was wrong about that. Because the bounce always occurs on the second day, not the first day. It always goes on the second day, not the first day," Clinton said. But later added "You can take a shot at Mark Penn if you want. It wasn’t his best day. He was hurt, he felt badly that we didn’t do better in Iowa. But you know, the idea that one of these campaigns is positive and the other is negative when I know the reverse is true and I have seen it and I have been blistered by it for months, is a little tough to take."
Solis Doyle is deeply loyal to Hillary. She has been part of "Hillaryland" since the early 1990s when she started as a scheduler in the First Lady’s office. She is very close to the Senator and is the mother of two young children.
Clinton may be more likely to bring new people on board to supplant senior members of the campaign, rather than firing them outright.
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Our least experienced president was Abraham Lincoln. He has served only one term in the House of Representatives. And that several years before he was elected president.
Our most experienced were Herbert Hoover and James Buchanan. Buchanan has been Secretary of State, Senator, Representative, Ambassador to England and advisor to 4 presidents: Jackson, Van Buren, Polk and Pierce. Hoover’s experience with getting relief to the European people after World War I and as Commerce Secretary should have made him the perfect choice to lead this nation during the Great Depression.
Here’s to experience:
These two, with all of their valuable experience, left the United States with the two biggest crisis in our history, the Civil War and the Great Depression. It took less experienced leaders to lead the United States out of these holes. Experience has value, but pales beside the need for leadership.
Go Obama!!!
Posted by: JLA | January 8, 2008, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
if Obama wins, may GOD help this country! Obama=Mushroom cloud is coming!
Posted by: Carlos | January 8, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Democrat party supporting people, please listen up. We need a candidate who can win, else we will be looking at 4 more years of Republicanism, possible world war in addition to continued Iraq war, deficits, expensive gasoline and pitiful health care. Please help us elect a candidate who is capable of winning. Obama is not that candidate.
Thank you.
Posted by: Pat Gresham | January 8, 2008, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
The only mushroom cloud, Carlos, is over your head. The ingredients to terrorist attacks are both more complicated and arbitrary than what you suggest here. The US stands a chance of being nuked somewhere down the road, but precisely when has more to do with their perception of our most vulnerable times — like just after an administration change while the new one is still settling in. Go Big O!
Posted by: SE Croft | January 8, 2008, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
JLA talks about the need for leadership. Tell me what leadership Obama has shown in his time in public office? He rarely votes Yea or Nay on issues. Going back to his days in Illinois he would vote Present or not even vote on issues like no porn shops 1000 yards from schools or having schools implement filters on pornography on their computers. Now as US Senator, he has so many NV (non-voting) marks on issues like Iraq that I can not see how that is leadership. If he doesn’t vote and doesn’t introduce legislation, what has he done to show leadership? I want a President who leads and this man has not shown that in his career.
Posted by: Leia | January 8, 2008, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
It isn’t just that Hillary is THE most qualified candidate for president; she is also the most qualified woman in the United States. And that means, if obama should win the nomination because a bunch of kids are swayed by his rhetoric and are oblivious to the necessity of experience, it will be a long time before another woman comes along who is as intelligent, capable, and competent as Hillary. She is what this country needs right now – she is what the world needs right now to keep us from slipping back into the “Dark Ages” [no pun intended - seriously, NO pun intended]. If the United States falls, it can bring the whole world down with it – and THAT scares the crap out of me.
Posted by: zeldish | January 8, 2008, 7:37 pm 7:37 pm
i just watched the bill clinton video on this site, and realized that bill has adopted a new look, the ted kennedy look, i’m scared of that! sorry, but its too funny watching the clintons sweat, i liked the ABC debate where hillary said “they cleaned up the white house and gave it respectability” i’m supprised the other candidates didn’t start laughing, i did! God help us they are all bums, congress included!
Posted by: jeffj | January 8, 2008, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm
For once a choice. Nothing bad about that. I personally will take inexperience over evasive anytime. Evasive is Hillary’s whole campaign. The country is tired of “You know my position, so I’ll not repeat it.” responses to direct and important questions. Do I support Obama? Not really because he has a bit of the evasive problem as well (yes platitudes are another form of evasive) along with the inexperience stigma. I’ll stick the guy who is a has a bit of experience and answers questions directly. Go Richardson. I am reminded why I seldom return to my country of birth.
Posted by: Wandering ExPat | January 8, 2008, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm
Unfortunately, the shakeup doesn’t remove the only one who should have left -
Posted by: Getalife | January 8, 2008, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
Life Safety First – I have yet to see an example where Hillary actually cared for anyone but herself. This entire race was never about this country, but about herself. Look at her pose in the picture that ABC used – that fist. Earlier in her campaign, she had balled up both of her fist. That’s right, she’s tougher than Mandela, but then again, she’s never been in prison before as Mandela was. That’s the hallmark of the Clintons. Mere words have no meaning and when push comes to shove, redefine the words to have new meaning!
Posted by: Getalife | January 8, 2008, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
Good lord….who -are- you people?!
Posted by: s | January 8, 2008, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
We can only hope to escape another 4 years of the Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton? dynasty. Hillary (with her special interests and corporate support, Bush Sr and Bill have big plans if they can pull it off. Between her crocodile tears Hillary would tear this country apart.
Posted by: Marge H. | January 8, 2008, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
Obama reminds me of Jimmy Carter..well intentioned but totally unprepared to deal with politics in Washington. We need someone who doesn’t need total on the job training.
Posted by: mc | January 8, 2008, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH ZELDISH – I HOPE AMERICA IS LISTENING OR READING!!!! WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER MISTAKE IN ELECTING A WRONG PRESIDENT! AND WE CANNOT AFFORD “AN ON JOB TRAINING PRESIDENT” EITHER – ELECT A CANDIDATE WHO HAS BRAIN AND CAN LEAD A COUNTRY ON DAY ONE. YES, EXPERIENCE: CAN MAKE CHANGE A REALITY! DON’T BELIEVE ON POETRY AND PROSE SPEECHES!!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!
It isn’t just that Hillary is THE most qualified candidate for president; she is also the most qualified woman in the United States. And that means, if obama should win the nomination because a bunch of kids are swayed by his rhetoric and are oblivious to the necessity of experience, it will be a long time before another woman comes along who is as intelligent, capable, and competent as Hillary. She is what this country needs right now – she is what the world needs right now to keep us from slipping back into the “Dark Ages” [no pun intended - seriously, NO pun intended]. If the United States falls, it can bring the whole world down with it – and THAT scares the crap out of me.
Posted by: zeldish | Jan 8, 2008 7:37:21 PM
Posted by: Samson Lim | January 8, 2008, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
All you women who are always joining in on the negatives in regards to Hillary..
Do you not know that only 50 years ago
women were allowed to vote? That today we have the opportunity to open doors for our daughters? Do you know tht in this day and age, women are getting paid
35% less than men doing the same Job..Do you not know that having a women in the white house will give every young women more opportunity and here you are voting for a man that talks about change and hope. You need experience to make changes, you need experience to bring hopes to reality…
Today a few men walked around Hillary’s Campaigning and guess what the signs said: HILARY GO IRON OUR SHIRTS…THIS IS THE MENTALITY OF SOME MEN. WHEN MR OBBAMA TOLD HILARY SHE WAS LIKABLE ENOUGH/ HE WOULD NOT SAY THIS TO A MAN/ WHEN HE ACUSED HILlARY OF JUST GOING AROUND THE WORLD DRINKING TEA AND NOT DOING ANYTHING, HE WOULD NOT SAY THIS TO EDWARDS OR ANY OTHER MALE CANDIDATE!
open your eyes ladies, its time to unite and put an experience, qualified WOMAM in the white house. for our young up in coming young American Women!!! think about this for an instance!!!! Hillary has been crucified and proven herslef to all…She has my vote!!!
Let women prove what we always knew we can do…Vote for Hillary!!! God Bless America!!!
Posted by: VoteResponsibly | January 8, 2008, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
People who do not recall having a better life under Bill Clinton’s administration are having big time amnesia. Remember that behind every man’s success is a woman and Hillary was that woman for Bill. Hillary has the experience to make this country better not a candidate who gives oratorical false hopes.
Posted by: Troy | January 9, 2008, 12:59 am 12:59 am
Am I the only voter in the United States that feels Hillary claiming 35 years experience is comical? Could Nancy Reagan claim 16 years experience based on being married to Ronald Reagan while he was governor of California for eight years and president for eight years?
Posted by: andy marascalco | January 9, 2008, 1:10 am 1:10 am
Don’t vote for the person you think can beat the republican… this is what has gotten this country into deep doo doo. vote for who you think would be the best president. republicans are hoping that democrats vote for who they think can beat their candidate. this is exactly what they want. as usual, they are very good at taking focus off the issue.
Posted by: tulcak | January 9, 2008, 1:50 am 1:50 am
Is there anyway that we could choose our favorite candidate without being so nasty to each other. We are chosing someone to do an impossibly difficult job. The person needs to be intelligent, hard working, and it helps to know persons withwhom to deal. I think Nancy Reagan DID help Ronnie. I know Kennedy was helped by Jackie and in France introduced himself as “Jackies’ Husband”. :-) Hillary HAS seen how “things work”. What would you think of a Hillary as Pres. and Oboma as VP ticket.? Might be good! Enjoy 2008!
Posted by: Phyl | January 9, 2008, 2:38 am 2:38 am
Well said,Phyl–about electing our favorite without all this nastiness. That said, I think Obama has too much class to accept VP ticket under Hillary. Hopefully he was grooming all those really young people to vote for him for PRES in 2012. You see, Bill was proven to be dishonest so many times…and Hillary backed him because they are a TEAM. Which means she is just as dishonest as he.
Posted by: Jenny | January 9, 2008, 3:18 am 3:18 am
So for Senator Hillary Clinton to pull an upset in NH, we had to catch a glimpse of emotion from her in an unguarded, uncalcaluated, non-strategic moment. I think she’s been a good, not great U.S. Senator, but I have trouble with her inability to convey that she gets “it.” I think she once did, but the Washington fray seems to have dried her out. I hope she trusts her instincts instead of her handlers more. She could use more pathos.
HONESTY: On the Democratic side Senator Clinton will win, I don’t want her to but if it comes down to her and Huckabee or McCain then I’ll take her.
HONESTY; Edwards deserves to and should win the Nomination/Presidency. He is and will make an excellent President. No one has exuded more honesty, passion and compassion in this race than him. He has fought hard and told the truth, if he dosen’t win, I really hope to see him as Vice President or a key role appointment in a Democratic or Republican administration. Senator Edwards I can trust. He seems to understand and convey right now among most of the canidates both Republican and Democrat that he is the one willing to sacrifice and make the extremely tough choices facing us in the future, and he will do it in the context of just and fairness. I have no worries and no trouble believing Senator Edwards will do the right thing, for the right reasons and do them the right way.
Senator Obama – I really like and want Obama to win the Nonimation/Presidency. When I think of Obama I think of Martin Luther King Jr., Stephen Covey, Dr. Tom Peters, Anthony Robbins etc..I continue to listen and watch his interaction with people. Whoever he speaks to or whatever the topic he is engaging, authentic, very knowledgeable considering his experience, sincere, and genuine. I call that referent power and it truly is refreshing reminding me of Teddy Roosevelt and FDR. I see Senator Obama as a person of unity and not divisiveness. He has just enough experience to lead, govern and mandate change to ensure a very strong domestic U.S. policy and economy. Obama has the ability to energize the United States presence globally and rebuild and restore lost respect not just among our key allies but other countries who currently may not be considered key on a strategic basis to us right now but will be long term. One of his best strentghs is relationship building. How could the US dollar and the trade deficit not get a bounce from that? No President will be elected with out a no holds barred strong foregin policy especially on Al-Qaeida/Taliban. Don’t just check out his Illinois State and U.S. Senator record also be willing to check out his books, speeches etc..he fills the job description = U.S. President Barack Obama 2008. A great ticket would be Obama/Edwards or Edwards/Obama. A so-so ticket would be Clinton/Edwards or Clinton/Obama.
Republicans: I liked Mike Huckabee for a minute when he was on the HBO Bill Maher show. His minute has passed. I don’t want a Romney/Edwards Romney/Obama or Romney/Clinton race. But I like Mitt Romney, and not because I have heard that Mormons are some of the nicest people in the world. I’m not Mormon, and Mormonism is not a cult – grow up and pick up a book or hit a website like http://www.lds.org. They have Articles of Faith and the Gospel Principles all tied to the Holy Bible. Although I haven’t had the desire to read it, I hear the Book of Mormon reads like a story. There are always a few knuckle heads looking to give anything a bad reputation/connatation/name – if you let them instead of thinking for yourself. Are you listening Southern Baptist Convention? Anyone whose ancestry is deeply rooted in christianity recognizing the Father the Son, and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost is alright with a lot of folks. Oh yeah Mitt did bring credibility and profitability back to the crooked US Olympic Committee. He is a successful millionaire of his own business. BUT THE BEST PART? HOW DID A CONVERSATIVE CHRISTIAN AKA MORMON WIN AND BECOME GOVENOR OF ONE OF THE THREE MOST NOT JUST SOCIALLY LIBERAL STATES IN THE COUNTRY? HOW DID A REPUBLICAN BREAK BREAD WITH A DEMOCRATIC STATE LEGALIZING GAY MARRIAGE AND DO IT SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT BEING RECALLED ALA FORMER CA GOVENOR GRAY DAVIS? Ya’ll actually buying into that Mitt flip/flop stuff. I want to know more and I’m gonna find out – because this is truly an anomaly in american politics. Could it be that the media, the liberals, the evangelicals all want us to think the same thing? Are Mormons baptized in complete submersion? Yes. Is there a bible in the pulpit? Yes, the King James version as a matter of fact along with the same dry hymnals sung every sunday in Presbyterian, Methodist and yes even Church of Christ. If you’re looking for feet stomping beat then you better hit the Baptist service although the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is truly world renowned. Mormons do not pass the plate or ask for donations/contributions or special funds aka building funds etc… They build one new temple every day, They pay Tighes as the Holy Bible prescribes. They believe in family and the focus is on raising children to make a difference and be the most productive law abiding, scripture reading, tighe paying human beings possible. Mormons seem to be a good example of “paying it forward.” There are no paid positions within the Mormon Church, so that makes them one of the worlds largest self sustaining volunteer communities not including Missionairies. Senator McCain, I live in Arizona. If we give you a post to bolster the U.S. security, track down the Taliban and Al Qaeida and rebuild our Armed Forces will you come home? (Ok, we’ll throw in North Korea, and Iran. We’ll even let ya have the Saudi’s/Pakistan and Afganistan). What are you going to do about China/Russia?
Posted by: MDH | January 9, 2008, 5:31 am 5:31 am
who here remembers the title of this article? interested parties, let’s focus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: jp | January 10, 2008, 12:02 am 12:02 am