Clinton aides hint that now things'll get nasty

While you were sleeping, the chartered jet of the third-place finisher in the Iowa Democratic caucus winged its way from Des Moines to Manchester, N.H. And it sounds like some decisions were made on that plane that may alter the course of that party's presidential race.

At her concession speech in Des Moines on Thursday night, Hillary Clinton was all gracious and determined and smiling. But hours later on that flight someone named Mark Penn, who happens to be her chief political strategist, ominously told a gaggle of reporters, including The Times' Peter Nicholas, that the campaign's focus needs to shift now onto, you might have guessed, someone named Barack Obama.

The Illinois senator happens to be the first-place finisher in those same caucuses and now Clinton, once the inevitable Democratic nominee, is playing catch-up. Things could get nasty with some pretty sharp media contrasts made in coming days, it would seem. "This has been very much a referendum on her,'' said Penn. "And people will take a harder look at the choice and the kind of president who will be needed in these times.''

Penn hinted that the Clinton campaign may be poised to mount a more aggressive campaign in New Hampshire than in Iowa. "Time and again in the Democratic primaries," he said, ...

... "you've seen people latch onto the new, seemingly fresh candidate only to then take a sobering look at the choice they have when it comes down to the end of it. I think you're going to see that again.''

He claimed that Obama's record is comparatively unexplored and he suggested the news media should ask itself about taking a closer look at Obama's history. "Does everyone know everything they need to know about Barack Obama?'' Penn asked. "That's a decision you're going to have to make. I think at this point his record is not very well-known. And she is really well-known. She's fully vetted, fully tested. And I don't think that process has occurred with Barack Obama.''

For weeks now Clinton aides have been threatening on and off the record to use some bad stuff against their chief opponent. First, two of them told conservative columnist Robert Novak that the Clintons had very damaging information on Obama, but they weren't going to use it. Then Billy Shaheen, her New Hampshire co-chair, said that though no Democrat would use Obama's admitted youthful drug use against him, boy, would the Republicans have a field day with that later this year.

Early this morning, Penn told Nicholas that he didn't believe Obama was positioned to win in New Hamsphire, which votes Tuesday. "The only thing Obama has going for him in New Hampshire," Penn added, "is some sense of momentum. Let's see whether or not that sustains itself ... when people really focus in on the choice of picking a president.''

Some adjustments need to be made in the Clinton strategy, Penn admitted. Clinton's strongest appeal in Iowa, he said, was with older voters. Now, she must reach across generational lines. "I think her appeal as we move forward can be broader than it was [in Iowa],'' Penn said. "And I think that will happen.''

The architect of the Clinton campaign claimed that she is still positioned to win the nomination and he sought, as every political strategist would at a time like this, to play down the Iowa setback. "This is a bump in the road," he said. "No question about that. But we're in a very, very strong position to move forward and tackle the challenges that this presents.''

Kinda makes you remember that long internal memo that someone named Mike Henry wrote to Clinton last spring. At the time he was her deputy campaign manager. And he wrote: “My recommendation is to pull completely out of Iowa and spend the money and Senator Clinton’s time on other states. If she walks away from Iowa, she will devalue Iowa — our consistently weakest state.”

At the time the campaign disavowed that leaked document.

But that was last spring. And this is now.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Double Standard]

Anyone who has been to an Obama event knows that he and his surrogates spend about half their time bashing Hillary. So the idea that going negative would be a new thing in the Democratic campaign is interesting to me. Why paint the story as if it Hillary's campaign is so horrible for attacking the opponent? Sure, they were in a good position and didn't have to be negative as Obama. But now to turn it against them when Barack has been incredibly negative for so long? Give me a break! Let's be honest and fair.

(Hey, read it again. It's Clinton aides going on the record themselves in this item saying this.)

[Karry Mays]

IOWANS are looking mighty foolish!!!they fell for the oprah sake oil and now the country will judge! they did not research becuase the media has been biased. Obamas change is INEXPERIENCE/RACISM what we do not need!
Truth is "WHEN" OBAMA DID SHOW UP TO VOTE IN SENATE HE VOTED EXACTLY AS CLINTON DID! WHERES THE UNBIASED MEDIA!.
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/mar/29/comparison_of_hillary_and_obama_votes_on_iraq
By Greg Sargent and Eric Kleefeld | bio
Since the comparison of the Iraq positions over the years of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is one of the hottest issues of the campaign, we thought it would be useful to post a comprehensive comparison of all of their votes on everything relating to the Iraq war.
So here it is: A massive compilation of Iraq-related bills — and the votes by Hillary and Obama on them, side by side — beginning in early 2005, when Obama first joined the Senate.
Of the total of 69 votes we compiled — some significant, some not — it turns out that the two differed on only one. You'll see that one in bold on our chart. But let us be clear: We are not posting this to suggest that their earlier difference at the start of the war — their most important difference — should in any way be overshadowed by these similarities. For many, that difference

[Anne Milligan]

With great concern, I recall the same kind of undiscerning mass hysteria that we see now in some sectors associated with the rise of Barak Obama, back in 2000 when George W. Bush came out of nowhere and was propped up as the next president. I wish people would slow down a little and really look at what is going on here. Despite his oratory skills and the media having created him as its next "newsworthy" darling, when the next president of the U.S. sits down at the desk, it is going to be another disaster if Barak Obama is sitting there. Barak Obama is simply not prepared to lead the free world. Think people, think! We simply cannot afford to set up another president who is participating in on-the-job-training.

[JIM]

Bye Bye BILLary!

[The LowDown]

This has been coming for awhile, but no one saw it because in truth the media has been building up Hilliary, not Obama. But, the fact is that Obama is the only canidate that the people demanded run. His campaign was not built on his ego, like the others, it was built on the demands of the people, especially young people. The second clue was how much money he got from small donors, those donations turn into real votes, unlike the huge donations that Hilliary got, which provide fewer votes. The third clue was the internet presence of the Obama supporters who are building him up. The other canidates wish they had that kind of support. Pay attention people, this contest is over.

[Keith L]

The Hillary fans are spinning already. Obama spends very little time attacking HIllary, and almost never by name. He takes issue with her policies and approaches. Guess what? It's working!! Isn't it interesting how people in states where both have spent a lot of time turn away from her and toward Obama. What's baffling to me is how Mark Penn thinks more of the same negative attacks will work. If anything that's what hurt her the most. The more mud she threw, the more she dirtied herself. But this is a perfect illustration of why Obama says he should be the choice and not Hillary: how can you do more of the same thing and expect different results? That is, according to psychology texts, one definition of insanity.

Hillary hasn't had an original thought in her head this entire campaign, except for the $5,000 for every baby. Which she quickly dropped. All her other ideas have been stolen from Edwards or Obama. She's even had the audacity to change her campaign signs to be all about "change."

Hillary will be done withnin a month.

[Chris McCoy]

The negative Hillary campaign has already started. Her wonks are out in force on the internet. You can recognize their tracks whenever they leave a message because they sound a lot like the first three...all in a row, at the beginning of this comment thread. It's been out in the blogs for a while that her campaign actually pays people to do nothing but fill comment-sections of discussion threads with negatives about Edwards and Obama. They sell fear of Obama and dire warnings instead of attacking his positions on the issues, which is what this election is really about.

The reason Hillary is losing is because people sense she will do or say ANYTHING to become President. At this point she'll self destruct in one of two ways. Either some of her negative campaigning against Obama will sound racist, or someone is going to start throwing negatives back...and mentioning Vincent Foster, Whitewater, and her claims of being a feminist leader while all the while campaigning on the back of her husband's record in office. Let's not forget she refuses to be open and honest and release her records to the public from the Presedential library till AFTER the election. Makes me wonder what she's hiding.

Honestly I'm not a big Obama fan...i like Richardson, but i really dislike Hillary. She's partisan and mean and stubborn (refuses to admit Iraq vote was a mistake). She's a liberal version of George Bush.

No more Clintons or Bushes in the White House please. 20 years is plenty. Lets not make it 28.

[jrw34]

This is a great day for America. No doubt the "fun part" of Hillary's campaign will come out as you see in some of the comments of rabid supporters on this blog. Today is America has turned a new page in it's history. Clinton's use of "Rovian" tactics won't work this time. Iowa is NOT the "bump on the road" that her spinners would like us to believe. The vehicle of propaganda is broken. Time to sell it for parts. Folks in Iowa have know her since the early 90's and she's campaigned extremely hard in Iowa. Iowa was the test of whether she could win in a national election and the answer was a resounding NO! She didn't even win her base which was the women voters, Barack took it. This is no fluke. Rudy and McCain can legitimately say they didn't try in Iowa, but not Hillary. We are done with "divider deciders" we've had that for almost two decades. Hillary was correct about one thing in her concession speech last night...she stated it was a great night for Democrats...she's right about that! We clearly have a candidate that speaks to people across the spectrum and does not have to run focus groups to find a position. Her campaign is clearly shaken up. She wasn't even close. 3rd place? John Edwards beat her. Her EMILY's and ATF side organizations couldn't counter the power of the people. Barack will win by a landslide. Last night was the beginning of the end of the Clinton dynasty. The spin machine is a broken record and nobody's listening...Obama '08.

[Karen]

Please do your own investigating, readers. Go to the Hillary site and read her position on issues. Go to the Obama site and ready his position on issues. Read Hillary's books. Read Obama's books. Don't let others' peoples opinions decide your own. Make an investment of your time to find out for yourself. The media has an agenda and slants their representation. All people have opinions and anyone with an opinion wants you to agree with them. People express themselves in ways designed to get you to agree with their opinions.

The worst thing you can do as a voter is let someone else make up your mind.

This is an important election and voting is a sacred right of Americans. Honor those who have died to secure that right for you and spend some time learning FOR YOURSELF who YOU feel is the best candidate. You can find detractors and supporters for every candidate. Even people who are misinforming you sound very believable and informed.

MAKE UP YOUR OWN MINDS AMERICANS!!! DON'T CAVE TO THE MEDIA BIAS AND DEFINITELY DON'T BUY INTO THE VITRIOL YOU SEE ON WEBSITES.

[ifymens]

Here we go again , another on the job training. What do people see in Obama. Oprah why dont you take your boy with you and leave us alone.Why do the Democrats like to self distruck, Barack OBama will never win in november no matter what the press will like us to believe.I know that some people want to ease their conscense by votting for Obama so that they will not be accused as racist but this has gone far enough.If Chris Mathews truely believe that America has changed, he should give up his job for a black man because l know of a few who are better than him.The press are jelous of Hillary and cant wait to see her fail.What is it about the Clintons that make the press wet their pants?

[Steve]

I would rather have a president that admited he did drugs like most of us in our youth and with minimal political expereince. If you have 4 more years of the so called expereinced politician nothing will change, with both Republicans and Hillary it will be politics as usual. It is time for a drastic change in this country, and Hillary is not it, a political hag with an ego who wants one thing, power.

[Joe]

You have to be kidding that people are defining who the nomination will go to by Iowa? Not one of the party nominees has won Iowa by the way in the last 4 elections. Obama does not have the experience to deliver in the Oval Office. I believe this country will make a grave mistake by placing their support behind this inexperience.

I am a very firm Democrat and I will never support an Obama ticket...this is a repeat of Bush number 2 with his inexperience. People are voting for Oprah not for Obama and that just makes me Ill that someone who is in the public eye can step in and sway enough people to switch their vote based on nothing solid. ALL I HEAR FROM HIM IS ... "its time for a change" I hear no clear plan on how he thinks he can make that change.

I also am not comfortable with his Islamic schooling background...why has no attention to details like this been made! For christ sake the islamic people believe its perfectly ok to kill people who do not believe as they do and they will be honored in heaven. He was very quick to pronounce the fact he was a "christian" despite the fact he was schooled in an islamic school as a child.

Bush has set this country up for failure in my opinion when the next president takes over and I do not feel Obama is the man who can dig us out of the trenches. Lets hope people don't elect Oprah, I mean Obama over Hillary because if they Democrats chose Him over Her .. the Republicans are a sure win in 2008 elections.

[Zennie Abrahsm]

Mark Penn has learned nothing and will just use the same strategy as before: being nasty and racist. Americans don't want that anymore. But he will just not learn. Barack Obama is the best candidate, and even the Clinton-promoters here know it. He has more experience with using good judgement than Clinton and it showed in Iowa.

Meanwhile, Penn will have to deal with his own statements....

http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/01/clinton-campaign-head-mark-penn-says-he.html

[Time for Change]

Did anyone notice that at Hillary's concession speech, she was claiming the mantle of change (stealing this line from Obama, really). But then as the camera panned out, Hillary was flanked by 1990s figures Madeline Albright and Bill Clinton -- looking old, creaky and battle-worn. (Interesting that Hillary's strongest supporters are 65+ set.) Obama's victory speech, on the other hand, had "fired up, ready to go" young students surrounding him. Also note that Hillary made that (admittedly, humorous -- and perhaps even spontaneous?) crack about Republicans, while Obama invited Republicans to join him, overcoming partisanship. Hillary says she has the "experience," but I don't want to relive this experience.

Obama in '08!

[Steve]

So Hillary wants to out-Romney, Romney. Well, we know how well Romney did in Iowa after out-spending his opponent 20 to 1. Hopefully Hillary will follow a similar strategy in NH to lose mightily against Obama. In the last few years, she has proven herself a betrayer of her principles. She supported the Bush bankruptcy bill that took all the rights from the middle class and gave them to the credit card companies and the banks. She supported the Iraqi War, until it became unpopular. She supported that war resolution against Iran not too long ago. The 70s Hillary would never have voted for the 21st century Hillary. It is unfortunate.

GET FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!! Hillary is history. Obama is the future.

[John Smart]

Gee, I have been saying this for MONTHS. Who is this man Obama? and why in the world would we elect him? he has gotten a free pass from the media for 11 months. It is time to go after him. Dig up his past. I want to know what makes this senator with 1 year of experience in the senate think he can be president. And the media needs to start doing its job - not letting Obama have a free ride as it has until now.

[MIKE]

KAREN FOR PRESIDENT!!!!

No truer words have ever been said.

To all all Obama/Oprah & Hillary/Bill Haters. :p

[McLovin]

Obama may not be perfect. But I do believe he is a brilliant man that will actually reason with the other side as much as possible given the political climate. I believe a Obama- Dodd ticket would mean a very reasoned, effective administration ( throw in Biden for Secretary of State) I believe he is the only candidate that gives this nation a chance to believe in the ideals that many of us want. When I close my eyes and imagine Hillary in the White house I see further division and the country and at best staying put with corporatist policies. When I close my eye and see Barack Obama being sworn in, I see the county moving forward, and taking a step towards changing what many of us envision the America we believe still exists.

John Edwards says some very compelling things, but I know too much about his work in the senate. His new populist message sounds too much like a man trying to create differentiation, but does not believe his own words.

Hillary does not need to be made a villain in all of this. She is just a cog in the big machine we are all tired of dealing with. I can simply put it this way, I do not trust her, but she is not a villain.

This is still a great country, and last night’s election proves just that.

[Franklin]

Well, if the writing skills, logic and spelling of the anti-Obama opinions on this page are an indicator of anything, he has my vote. (How can you misspell so many words when the input box here has a spell checker?!)) Islamic schooling, Joe? Are you serious? The scary thing is that you probably are.

What should I infer from the fact that the Obama supporters are so much more articulate and well-reasoned than his detractors? A delta in IQ perhaps?

[Arlene]

This election has shown that young people will come out if a candidate inspires them and that candidate is Barack Obama. This Iowa election has also shown that independents support Barack Obama and we need independents to win in November. Independents will not support Clinton. She is the worst nominee for the Democrats. And John Edwards is getting so angry. He doesn't have the temperament to be President. Obama has an even temperament. He is the one we need.

[Chris]

Nights like last night make me proud to be an American. Commenters like Joe make me question that all over again.

(1) "Not one of the party nominees has won Iowa ... in the last 4 elections"? What about Kerry in 2004? Bush and Gore in 2000? Not liking the truth doesn't make it okay to outright lie about it.

(2) "People are voting for Oprah not for Obama"? Oprah doesn't mean much to me - I'm a 27-year-old male - or any of my friends. We're all voting for Obama.

(3) "I also am not comfortable with his Islamic schooling background"? The change will be when racist slurs and other Clinton/Rove campaign machinations like this stop fooling people like you. Obama went to a public school in a secular muslim country; this is no more a muslim school than PS 421 in New York is a Christian school. Just because someone once lived in another country doesn't make him a mujahideen towelhead terrorist.

Finally, the "Obama can't win in November" argument: I have yet to see a hypothetical general election matchup where Obama doesn't do better than Clinton. Half of the country already detests Hillary and always will. See http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/3-0&fp=477ec03d9493cb71&ei=V1h-R7ruKIT2-wHjssGgDQ&url=http%3A//www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/12/29/electability_democrats/&cid=0 for an example.

[Marjorie]

Nothing new here - the Clintons are nasty and vindictive people who feel entiteld to live in the WHite House. They forgive no one except convicted drug dealers or white collar crime fugitives who have piad for pardons by donating big bucks to the campaign chests. (or to the morally challenged Rodham brothers) How I would love to have Obabama to vote for! I am a white , well-educated. well-to-do woman.of Hillary's age who was happy to see the fake smile frozen on her smug face last night. I had been hoping that this battery-operated robot would fall on her big butt in Iowa.
Her brothers took money for pardons; his has a couple of felony drug convictions,; his Arkansas campaign manager has written that he used state troopers to solicit women for him; and they're both congernital liars as David Geffen has pointed out. He lost me at "smoked but didn't inhale" Please.
I find it weird that Billary supporters yak on about lack of foreign policy experience. They were singing a different tune when Arkansas's good ol' boy Governor was running. Obama has far more experience than Bill ever had. and Hillary's was all by osmosis apparently.
The only foreign policy experience you'd get in Little Rock would be deciding what to serve for brunch if an agricultural delegation from Kazakhstan showed up.
The recent hints dropped that Hill helped resolve the Northern iIeland impassse are ludicrous. WIll she now also take responsibility for dropping the ball in Rwanda?.
Go Obama!

[barackoblogger]

The negative campaign is "GOING TO START"???

What do you call kindergate, racist Muslim and drug dealing smears, playing the gender card? And where has that gotten her but a 30-point drop in the polls in the past two months and a but-whoopin' in Iowa!?

Well, Hillary, I guess a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do. Go for it.

But at this point I would expect that the same tactics would have the same result and she will tank.

[David Peck]

I just received my overseas absentee ballot and promptly marked it for Barack Obama. America is not about political dynasties; I voted for hope and change and opportunity. David Peck

[John Doe]

Hillary's has 50% negatives. So she is a polarizing figure. We need someone who can bring this country together,not divide it. Obama seems to unite the right and the left. Democrats,Repulbicans,and independents all like Obama. H