Hillary Clinton plays her "Ace" in North Carolina

Averell "Ace" Smith, long renowned among California political operatives, has been burnishing his reputation this year on behalf of Hillary Clinton. Now he's undertaking his biggest challenge yet in this campaign season: overseeing her political shop in North Carolina, where a primary win in early May by Clinton could spur a real momentum shift in the Democratic presidential race.

The turf already is so favorable for Clinton in the most immediate contest — Pennsylvania's April 22 primary — that, if anything, the expectations game may work against her. At this point, anything less than a solid win by her there would probably fail to give her a discernible boost. Indeed, unless she swamps Barack Obama in the Keystone State — say, by 15 to 20 percentage points — his camp will continue to stress the bottom line: a relatively unchanged delegate count.

But the Obama camp will be anxious to bounce back on May 6, when Indiana and North Carolina hold their primaries (with even more delegates at stake, combined, than in Pennsylvania). And North Carolina looms as especially important for Obama: With a large black population (about 22% of the state's total) and substantial pockets of well-educated citizens, a loss there would raise questions about whether his appeal was seriously eroding.

Enter Smith, recently dispatched by the Clinton team to try to engineer such a defeat for Obama. As we said, his record ...

so far is impressive.

He ran Clinton's primary campaign in California, where she won easily on Feb. 5, and then helped guide her to the victory she absolutely had to have: Texas, on March 4. Indeed, in reporting on his mission in the Lone Star State, the San Francisco Chronicle headlined its piece: "Clinton sends her 'stopper' to Texas."

The Obama campaign has countered with its own proven pro to run its operation in North Carolina, Craig Schirmer. He headed Obama's effort in Wisconsin and directed the get-out-the-vote program for him in South Carolina — states where the Illinois senator chalked up smashing triumphs.

Schirmer also is familiar with North Carolina's political landscape; in 2002, he managed Democrat Erskine Bowles' failed U.S. Senate bid there. Bowles (a White House chief of staff under Bill Clinton) lost that race to Republican Elizabeth Dole for the seat that longtime GOP Sen. Jesse Helms gave up.

— Don Frederick

Comments

[mali]

Mar-15, 2008, OBAMA STANDS BEHIND SPIRITAL ADVISOR WRIGHT!
“Wright is like an uncle you love and respect”
IT’S WAY TOO LATE OBAMA, NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR YOUR LIES AND EXCUSES OR A SPEECH SOMEONE WROTE OR STOLE FOR YOU! YOU HAVE CLAIMED TO BE A MEMBER FOR 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW FULL WELL WHAT THIS RACIST ANTI-AMERICAN PREACHES EACH WEEK, YOU CAN BUY THE DVDS ON THE WEBSITE, and THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU’RE RASING YOUR YOUNG DAUGHTERS? YOU ARE MOST CERTINALLY NOT THE LEADER FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY!

How does Obama consider someone a Mentor and friend for 20 years and not know their hateful racist values and character? Obama said he had no plans to leave the South Side church. Wright is like an uncle you love and respect! he highly respects the opinions of Rev. Wright said Obama, who brings hope to many and agrees with giving the man of year award to the notorious Louis Farrakhan. Nation of Islam Minister who said we are witnessing the phenomenal rise of a man of color in a country that has persecuted us! Obama hasn't distanced himself from Farraklhan as he wants the media to believe. A number of Jewish and pro-Israel voters have concerns and raised questions about Barack Obama. In case you haven't followed this ongoing issue, here's a brief summary of the complaints:Obama has called for engaging Iran. Daniel Ayalon, Israel's former ambassador to the United States, told the New York Sun he is concerned Obama would want to negotiate with a "Hitler-like" regime. Some of Obama's policy advisors of various stripes, such as Samantha Power, Robert Malley, and Zbigniew Brzezinski, have come under attack for their views on Israel. World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder fears, it's only a matter of time before the president becomes anti-Israel Howard Friedman, the president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, said the leading presidential candidate are all interested in continuing close ties with Israel. Obama in traditional muslim garb brought these questions back to the fore Obama is a closet Muslim. Obama hasn't distanced himself from Farraklhan as he wants the media to believe, Obamas and his church said Farrakhan "epitomized greatness. For Americans, Farrakhan epitomizes racism, particularly in the form of anti-Semitism. Over the years, he has compiled an awesome record of offensive statements, even denigrating the Holocaust by falsely attributing it to Jewish cooperation with Hitler "They helped him get the Third Reich on the road." His history is a rancid stew of lies. Any praise of Farrakhan heightens the prestige of the leader of the Nation of Islam. His anti-Semitism and particularly his false insistence that Jews have played an inordinate role in victimizing African Americans. Farrakhan's dream has vilified whites and singled out Jews to blame for crimes large and small. He talks of Jewish conspiracies to set a media line for the whole nation. He has reviled Jews in a manner that brings Hitler to mind. And yet Obama and Rev Wright heaped praise on Farrakhan. He applauds his "depth of analysis when it comes to the racial ills of this nation." He praised "his integrity and honesty." He called him "an unforgettable force, a catalyst for change and a religious leader who is sincere about his faith and his purpose." These words of the black man who touts change and claims to be a uniter of all people? DO NOT VOTE FOR OBAMANATION!

[john]

Hillary is the best candidate for the position, she has the expereince, intelligence, charisma and she's a fighter. Her husband was president. She knows what to do. I was for a while very concerned that America was choosing a pop star, Britney Spears type, with radical ties to a religious leader, he had ties to corruption, he was someone who was pressuring the black delegates to switch to his camp or they'd lose their jobs, he lied about Nafta, and yet he seemed unstoppable. That was truly dangerous because although all of the warning signs were there people were in denial about them because he was a good orator and. But so was Kennedy, Hitler. Most worrisome, is that he used the race card. He avoided any tough or serious questioning because any tough question that went his way started to become about race. No one ever got to see him field the tough questions. When he lied about his minister, and then about what he heard in church, that sent out even bigger alarms. Even his former pastor is against him now, implying, Obama distanced himself from the church to further his political gains. It does seem Obama is an opportunist; the type to do whatever it took to win this election. America should be digging deeper into his past, if this is what's coming out at the surface, you know there'd be more.

I'd rather see Hillary win this, or McCain. Obama has demonstrated he does not belong here. Collin Powell would have and should have been on the ticket. He would have made a great President and leader and would have been very difficult to stop. He wasn't a pop start type, just a solid man with experience, who didn't need to wave a race card. He is just a decent person with excellent experience.

In this race for the president: Hillary, McCain are the best candidates, in that order.

[Frustrated Denocrate slowly turning Independant]

THE CLINTON’S FRAUD CASE HAS UPCOMING HEARING DATE TO SET A TRIAL DATE 3 DAYS AFTER THE PENN PRIMARY. THEY HAVE NOT DISCLOSED THIS. OF COURSE THEY WANT EVERYONE TO CHILL OUT! THERE WILL BE A HEARING ON APRIL 25, (2 DAYS AFTER THE PENN PRIMARY) TO SET A TRIAL DATE. She has not disclosed this. Gov Rendell is said to be called as a witness by the Plaintiff.

Peter Paul now has been granted an appeal based on new videotape evidence which he says contradicts both their previous testimony. His side of the story can be found if you Google "Hillary Uncensored." Watch the video, look at how many stars were there; they are being deposed and giving testimony under oath now.

DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. Go to www.lasuperiorcourt.org (Los Angeles Superior Court) and look in the CIVIL Column, then Click on CASE SUMMARIES then enter these numbers in the box BC304174. It is an active case and has been since January.

[Luke]

If this guy Smith is so great, then why didn't Clinton "deploy" him in any of those 11 in a row she lost? Was she saving him for some reason? Does he charge some unreasonable amount of money, so that she wanted to only break him out for special occasions? Or could it be that she did, and he still didn't win for her?

[Chris]

Hillary campaign has now succeeded beyond her wildest dreams in fueling a perception that Obama is the "black candidate" who is not electable. Watch in NC as she continues this strategy and puts Jesse Helms to shame.

[thebob.bob]

He didn't do such an Ace job in Texas. Hillary did not win in Texas. She won one-step, Obama won one-step and he wil walk away with more delegates, the currency of this primary. Clinton can't win, she can only sabotage the Democrats chances for the White House.

[Kenny]

Barack Obama

He has been a member of a racist church for 20 years.
If you are a white person or hispanic you can not join
the church you must be black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We do not need a RACIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE!

GOD HELP US AND HELP HILLARY WIN!

[Juan]

Hillary visited 80 countries including Arkansas.John McCain visited 18 countries this includes 10 times to Iraq and 4 times to Cancun, Mexico beaches. Hillary has world experience and better Commander in Chief can answer the red phone at 3 AM with the hair dryer on. That is very very hard that time of the night.

[MB]

As a citizen of North Carolina.... on primary night in this state, Hillary won't know what hit her.

[JFK]

We dont need a racist in the white house!

[Barbara]

Kenny, anyone can join the Trinity church. It 's a fact.

Americans are so stupid they will believe anything. That's why our middle class is disappearing and that is why our country is no longer free. Because we are so busy dividing ourselves that we allow the rich to rob us blind.

[Obama Speech]

Obama can talk gold out of trash and he did it again in the RACE speech - successfully.

American don't like action and facts -just words.

So Hillary will lose NC badly - especially when high educated folks and large africa-american population present there.

[Jerry]

First off, to all the Barack Obama haters, we've had people in the White House who had dealings with racists. Ronald Reagan and George Bush gave speeches at Bob Jones University, which has an expulsion policy for any student who engages in interracial dating. Let's not talk about Rev Jerry Falwell and his GOP ties. In a speech, he stated 9/11 was America's punishment for gays and athiests in America. So that's not the problem you're having, because those individuals directed their angst towards black, latinos and homosexuals. You didn't have problems with these people and probably accused those who did, of being "oversensitive" or "playing the race card". Your problem is the person casting judgement being African-American and taking America to task for being treated Blacks as 2nd class citizens. People in Europe (especially France) stay many of the same things about America as Reverend Wright, but since their white they aren't accused of being "racist". I'll concur Rev. Wright many not unpatriotic, but he's not a racist. He doesn't call white and Jews people racial slurs from the pulpit. Saying rich white men run this country is not racist, it's true. That like me saying a white guy is racist for saying most of the players in the NBA are black. Some rich whites are very aware of the plight of minorities and the poor and sympathize. However, most tend to be unempathic or even insensitive to the plight of poor blacks, thinking they must have done something to deserve their lot in life. Strom Thurmond was an unapologetic segregationist who served in the Senate from 1956 until 2003. Let's not talk about some of Trent Lott's comments and dealings surrounding race. Both of these men were embraced by Republican Presidents and obviously many whites who voted for them repeatedly. Furthermore, Bill Clinton invited Rev. Jeremiah Wright to the White House in 1998 and anyone who gets invited to the White House is subject to background checks and a vetting process. However, Bill Clinton who recognized the popularity that Rev. Wright held in the South side of Chio, probably didn't care and was more concerned with his reputation as the "1st Black President" to care. He never thought Rev. Wright's sermons whould hit the national media during his then Fist Lady wife's campaign. Hillary being the dishonest, opportunistic hypocrite she is, wants to capitalize on Barack's so-called "racist" minister, when her own husband invited him to the White House, when he was President. I guess Oprah Winfrey's a racist too, because that's her church too. If you honestly believe Oprah and Barack are pro-black racists, then God help race relations in America. Not every one is going to be a out of touch, deracinated non-threatening African American like Condoleeza Rice, who's never identified with being Black. Her father actually was against Dr. Martin Luther King protesting and organizing where they lived, so that's endemic of her racial consciousness. Some whites need to stop castigating and vilifying people who don't think race relations and America's policies are "hunky dory". If whites were subject to the past and present treatment many blacks faced, you'd be even more pissed. I heard people on TV after 9/11 say we should nuke the whole Middle East into obvilion, based on the actions of Al-Queda. This is the type of hypocrisy that just give validity to Rev. Wright and his views.

[Fran Villa]

In the last few debates, Barrack H. Obama kept saying: “Senator Clinton is right…” “Senator Clinton is right….” “I agree with Senator Clinton…” Yes, Hillary Rodham Clinton is RIGHT; and she is ready to be Commander and Chief of this Great Democratic Nation. He kept repeating himself and stating Clinton is right because again he did not have anything substantive to add!
Barack H. Obama , also went to Hillary R. Clinton when he arrived in the senate, for mentoring. These are bills sponsored 2007-2008. I am sure if we all do more research we will find Hillary R. Clinton has always been at work for this country and ALL it’s people. Go to govtrack us/congress/person.xpd?tab=bills&id=300022 Look under “Bill Sponsorship” there sure is more than what we thought. And this was just for 2007? Look under issues and review your choice. To see where Hillary R. Clinton stands; on many issues that truly affect us all.
Youtube com/watch?v=F7doDDfQmZA&NR=1 Ecomony
youtube com/watch?v=dQJxtzLQ51Q&feature=related RE:NAFTA
Campaign 2008: Pundits Versus Reality http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/blog/main/2008/03/28/151845

Dr. Maya Angelou http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/blog/main/2008/03/31/154530
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