Hillary Clinton's campaign talking points for tonight

If you talk to a Hillary Clinton supporter tonight, ask him or her about Georgia -- and see how close the answer follows the topics outlined below. This is a release sent out a short time ago to the media. We suspect it was a mistake; this is the kind of e-mail the campaigns usually prepare in advance and then send out as needed to surrogates -- supporters likely to talk with others, especially the media. Other e-mails for Tennessee and Oklahoma are pasted below the jump. You get the idea. The campaign didn't respond to e-mails seeking clarification of whether they were just trying to be ironic. If they do respond, we'll update.*

The subject line was "Surrogate Alert: SUPER TUESDAY TALKING POINTS."

                            TALKING POINTS
                            February 5, 2008
                            SUPER TUESDAY TALKING POINTS

SUPER TUESDAY

We’re excited by what we’re seeing.
We have 21 states that are still outstanding where we expect to pick up a significant number of new delegates.
To be sure, both campaigns have a long night ahead of them -– but we feel very good about the numbers that we’re seeing.
It’s very important that people in the states where the polls are still open get out and vote.

GEORGIA

Unlike the Obama campaign, the Clinton campaign never dedicated significant resources to Georgia.
Sen. Obama spent over $500,000 dollars on ads on television and radio; we never went up on TV
The Obama campaign has 9 offices in Georgia. The Clinton campaign only has 2.
Sen. Obama has had staff and significant campaign operation across the state for 8 months. Sen. Clinton only deployed staff to the state in the last couple of weeks.
Polls have consistently showed Sen. Obama with wide lead over Sen Clinton. That lead has only widened over time.

So now you can follow along at home and see who sticks to the script. ... and the talking points for Tennessee and Oklahoma are after the jump....

-- Scott Martelle

* Intro has been updated from earlier posting.

OKLAHOMA / TENNESSEE
We’re very excited by our strong victories in Oklahoma and Tennessee.
These are the first two states where both candidates competed fiercely.
For months, the Obama campaign has been spinning that they have a monopoly on red states; tonight we showed that they don’t.
With these first two victories, Hillary Clinton has demonstrated that she can compete and win in red states.

SUPER TUESDAY GENERAL

We’re excited by what we’re seeing.
We have 17 states that are still outstanding where we expect to pick up a significant number of new delegates.
To be sure, both campaigns have a long night ahead of them – but we feel very good that we won the first truly competitive contests and the remaining numbers that we’re seeing.
It’s very important that people in the states where the polls are still open get out and vote.

Comments

[FN]

What kind of an idiot would send that email?

[Curtis]

GO HILLARY!!

[Carter Mayfield]

They probably have a number of e-mail lists and sent to the wrong one. I imagine it is a pressure cooker over there trying to respond in real time so things happen.

It looks like Georgia won't even be a big story tonight.

[Mensan Girl]

We're with you Hillary. We believe in you, you can do it girl, despite the hate campaign they are running against you. For all the "Lisa Simpsons" of this country, I hope you bring home the victory.

[jchumma]

So? What's your blooming point? Are you meaning to say that the Obama campaign does not have talking points? They will most definitely be explaining the MA loss despite the Kennedy-Kerry support. Isn't that part of any political campaign? So what explains your glee?
It is simply sickening to see the blatant bias you display--making you a blight to the honorable profession of journalism. Just do your job well and we'll look forward to reading the LATimes again. Thank you.

[Lea Crozier]

Big Deal. I'm glad that Hillary is leading.

[Georgia]

Here we go with the leaks already.

[Tom J]

So the Clinton campaign is bragging about how they dissed Georgia because they figured they weren't useful enough? Wow. That's really cold - especially when they've also been bragging all year about how much money they're raised.

The Obama campaign is running a 50-state campaign because...there are 50 states in the United States.

Exactly what part of that do the Clintons not understand?

[whosentit]

someone making it up obviously.

[Boris Geiss]

Oh wait, playing the race card in Georgia, borrowing the Kennedy mantle, and going on a racially biased talk show hosted by a billionaire isn't out of school, but this email is? Stop coasting, Obama. Hillary may not have Book Club housewives desperate to see a color man in the white house but we can think.

[John]

The fact that you actually got an update on a "leak" means this was not sent to you by mistake.

[Mike Kohl]

California what is up with you. First you get First Lady Shiver sharing face with Oprah (and her husband is the Republican Governor) and then you said you need change. Obama is inexperienced change!

[Jon Burdick]

Obama pointedly did not compete in Tennessee and Oklahoma, exactly the same way she didn't compete in Georgia. So these "talking points" are just more lies from the Clinton campaign...as per usual. If she is the nominee and wins the election, I hope we can all enjoy yet more years of lies from the White House.

[jj]

Seems like it was planted by the Obama camp. Certainly seems that Obama and his staff don’t practice what he preaches.At least with Clinton, we know what we are getting.

[robert No longer in L.A.]

Simply put? What Geo Bush did to this country, Hellary Clinton will also do...divide it with such great animosity, that NOTHING of value will be achieved, other than wasting another 4-8 years, and alienating everyone. I can live with Obama, McCain for 1 term (zzzzzzzzzzzz), Huckabee, or Romney...Clinton? NEVER! NEVER!! NEVER!!! If any of you are smart enough to see the damage Bush has done, then you'r wise enough to KNOW, Clinton is just another Bush; repugnant to the majority.

[Deb]

What's all the fuss about? Every campaign produces talking points to keep everyone on message, in a range of potential situations. There's nothing mysterious about them. You hear them everytime the candidates and their surrogates talk to the public and the media. Good point, John, about the "update".

[Jon Kavulic]

Hillary cannot beat McCain.

I actually pity Hillary supporters because they lack the basic ability to gage people by their vocal intonations and their body language.

And they lack the reason to understand how she would effect our country.

I do not want four more years of cultural way because that is EXACTLY what we'll get if she would be elected.

This is not a time for cultural war. Our country is too vulnerable.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.

[Jon K.]

Mensan Girl,

"Lisa Simpsons" of the world?

Lisa Simpson is a characture of all that is imbalanced and wrong with the Liberal/Democratic component of our society.

COMPLETELY UNPRAGMATIC!

Be realistic or you are a fool.

[Doug]

What the Billary supporters don't understand is that if she wins the nomination those of us who supported other candidates are not going to vote for them in a general election - even if she could get a running mate. Who the hell is going to run with her and be marginalized by Bill and pushed to the background like no VP in the history of the country?

[John Harvard Courage]

Every campaign provides talking points. When you work in DC --like I do-- and are even remotely active in politics--the parties share everything with you. Not quite like Joran admiitting he played a role in Natalee Holloway's death, cuz it's just politics. But what's wrong with talking points. And, ah to those who are saying the TPs are lying...hello? How so? And BTW, tell me something that Obama has accomplished. I'm pretty sure it's nothing but hope.

(Nothing is wrong with talking points. But when they're written BEFORE the results and allege to be commenting on the as-yet unknown results and are obtained by a journalist, they do reveal to readers a lot about what the fears and goals of that candidate are.)

[Philip Murdoch]

With a woman and a black man competing for the position to lead the party to the next presidency, the democrats are geared for change, and God knows we need it. So the proposition of either Hillary or Obama represents an electrifying shift in the politics of what has become the not so United States, giving hope and vioce to a people who when they are listened to are found to be fair minded. Now to search your conscience and see for yourself who is about to take that principle of change and run with it, who already has. I have long though that the absence of the feminine voice in US politics is a lapse in what could be a very practical and even-handed kind of governance, I'm afraid though that I have seen no evidence that Hillary, whether capable or not, intends on bringing such an ethos into office, and so for me at least (and I urge you to seek for yourself) the greatest hope is with Obama who has ignited a discourse with Americas young and in so doing has glimpsed what shape change is taking.

[Anthony]

Amazing! Amazing! Amazingly amazing!
The ability you all have to demonize someone, anyone who happens to disagree with your point of view, who does not knod approvingly at your comments.
Can we all learn to know and understand each other? Can we all learn to disagree? Find the "goods" in each other and praise each other for the goodness!
Think about it, if there's still something called the brain extended out from the top of our necks! Obama and Clinton are all the same! We are all the same, getting sick of the past eight years of shame and destruction, and wanting change!
It does not matter who, Obama or Clinton, is in our Whitehouse this coming January, 2009. One sure thing is that there will be change, for the better!
So please, stop demonizing each other.
Go to work for a common cause - get our House back in order!