Patti Solis Doyle, longtime Hillary Clinton loyalist, joins Obama camp

As The Times' Michael Finnegan detailed today, initial signs indicate that many women voters who had supported Hillary Clinton's presidential quest are more quickly and willingly lining up behind Barack Obama than many analysts had anticipated. And one conversion is bound to get a lot of attention -- the Obama campaign has announced that additions to its staff include Patti Solis Doyle, who for more than a year managed Clinton's bid.

The prospect of Doyle signing on with Obama had been rumored for a few weeks, and it was made official with the news that she will serve as chief of staff to his eventual vice presidential pick.

At first blush, that would seem to make it less likely that Clinton will be tapped for the running-mate slot.

Doyle, a longtime Clinton loyalist, was jettisoned from her team during Obama's February streak of caucus and primary wins, which  gave him a lead in the nomination contest that he never relinquished. At the time, she was singled out for much of the blame for a campaign that had not maximized Clinton's strengths in the race's early stages and then was seriously was short on cash during the Obama surge. Last week, the New York Times reported that since Doyle's departure, she and Clinton had not spoken.

It would seem odd if they were to set about repairing their relationship with Doyle shepherding another Clinton campaign after the jolting end to their most recent collaboration. Then again, the adjustment period for the two presumably would be about a nanosecond. 

Also on the list of new hires by Obama is another woman well-known within political circles: Stephanie Cutter, who served as head of communications for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. Cutter has been assigned to what could prove an especially challenging position -- chief of staff for Michelle Obama, expected to be the target of intensifying attacks from some conservatives.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[jon]

It's amazing that anyone actually believes that *crat* is a Hillary supporter.
Obviously, he/she/it is a Limbaugh/Fox listener/watcher, judging by the language used.
The most amazing aspect, though, is that you can always tell a GOPster - - they tend to project their inadequacies, on others. They think that because they're easily led by others opinions, we are, too. The vast majority of Dems think for themselves, which is why the Dems in Congress often have trouble sticking together. They don't walk in lock-step, with one mind, like GOPsters.
With love... a former HIllary supporter, who easily transitioned to Sen Obama.

[Startime]

crat3 is in all likelihood better recognized as repug3, or dirtytricks3 or fooltroller3.

Anybody reading online can see that right wing conservative slime and subversion technicians are hard at work.

But this is the year slime will be called slime and wiped off with a kleenex.

crat3 is a very busy slimer, that's all...

[richard hurwitz]

IT IS OBVIOUS....CRAT3 IS REALLY HILLARY CLINTON!!!!!!

[Edward]

crat3! Which world do you live in?

We've heard of the Republicrats Moles planted in Hallary's camp because your fellow Republic-rats thought she was going to get the normination. Hah! Now we know who one of the mole is.

You must be quite disappointed because you won't get to use all the crap you collected from Hillary's camp. It must be very painful for you to know that you are about to get kicked in your sore behind.

Remember the story of King Saul vs David, the INEXPERIENCE young man annointed by God, and chosen to rule over God's people. Go Figure.

You can't Kill Hope!

Edward

[Jenna]

OMG, why would they pick her? She would be the last person I would chose to work for me given the fact that she helped tank Hillary's campaign with mismanagement. Oh well, as a Clintonista this is good news. Hillary will probably have a shot to run against McCain in 2012 since Obama won't win with losers like this on his team.

[Voter]

Get with the program, nomination was not stolen, he
flat out won period so stop hatting. It is a fact, Obama is
the greatest, and with his expertise he won fair. Perhaps
you can run a campaign so get started and stop making
stupid negative comments as though you know what you are talking about. So, kick rocks.

[wow...]

Gotta laugh at these Chris Rocker-style HRC folk.

They fell in love with the first serious woman to run for President. BUT they now say they won't vote for a MAN who's policies was the most like Clinton. Instead they will vote for a conservative who's Presidency will be the exact OPPOSITE of Clinton.

More dead Americans in Iraq. Tax breaks for the wealthy.

And worse yet, he'll probably choose a Supreme Court Judge who will overturn Roe v Wade, eliminating women's choice and setting women's rights back a half century!

[Pith Eous]

The winners laugh and tell funny stories while the losers scream, "We was robbed! We was robbed! Deal! Deal!" Some things never change.

As for me, this time around, I would vote for an alligator if it promised to bob it's tail and not tear the arms from anyone while on the campaign trail. The only other things I would ask is that it never pursue any of the rubbish policies spouted and pursued since 1980 and that it not engage in the kind of arrogant and deplorable personal conduct that destroyed the Clinton presidency, leaving the country to the tender mercy of a pack of hyper-arrogant imbeciles.

Suffice to say I am fed up to the gills with arrogance, bible thumping, incompetence, foam-at-the-mouth anything and the Joseph Goebbels school of public relations and advertising.

[Cathy SD]

Well said Bane. As a woman who was a big fan of Hillary- but more importantly a Democrat- I find the "my candidate didn't win so I'm going to go sulk in the corner" attitude absurd. If you believe in supporting your party, then support your party. If you don't have a party, then support the person you find most qualified. If that is McCain, then vote for McCain. If it is Obama, vote for Obama. I simply find it silly to say you support Hillary (whose policies are Democratic and 99% similar to Obama) and then when she doesn't win the nomination, vote for someone whose policies are the exact opposite to your favored candidate. If you really think McCain's policies are better than Obama's, then vote for McCain....but don't say that you're voting against Obama due to his defeat of Clinton. That is simply mindless.

[Richard P. McDonough]

Hillary was never a contender because of the financial stuff her husband would have to disentangle himself from. It would be too costly.

Doyle? We'll see.

As for the several women out there who think that Obama is the devil because he defeated a woman a lot of people quite disliked, tant pis.

[the truth speaks louder than fiction]

So much to do about so little.
Until you shake up the Senate and the Congress it does not matter that the emperor has no clothes, be it he or she.

Supply and Demand dictates that he who has the gold rules and at this time, with the trade imbalance and no end in sight, CHINA RULES the commodities’ and we are but a spectator.

Start learning Mandarin!

The world is not as your representatives would have you believe.

[Robert Lewis]

New Obama senior advisor Patti Solis and her husband's $192,500.00 compensation package from his tax exempt entity filed from their home address

www.webofdeception.com

[Rodney Lamprey, jr.]

A campaign tactic used by Richard Nixon, and Karl Rove, was to plant mis-attributed false attacks and rumors in the newspapers to create infighting among his Democratic rivals. I doubt that the GOP play book has changed much, except that the GOP works their deceit on the internet now too. The GOP plays the liberal media like a violin. The GOP knows that the "liberal media" will relay any misinformation they want. Real voters just want a new Democrat elected to end these failed dynasties.

[lugnut]

I thank God every day for sending us Obama. He kept that "thing" from being the nominee, and hopefully from ever being President. I believe Obama is the answer to my prayers that HRC never become President of our great country. This has affirmed my belief in a deity.

[Chris H]

Setting aside the issue of who was chosen, and why, is it typical for a party's nominee for President to pick the Chief of Staff for the Vice-Presidential candidate before s/he has even been picked? Shouldn't the VP nominee have some choice in the matter? I'm confused, and would appreciate someone telling me the rationale behind this. Thanks.

[Ideal Skeptic]

Why doesn't whoever gets to be Obama's VP pick get to pick his own chief of staff? Is this just for the campaign or would she stay on should Obama get elected?

[Fran Heidig]

The only reason I can see that Obama appointed Patty Solis is because everything is OK between HILLARY AND PATTY. Therefor, he is planning to pick HILLARY to be Vice-President. If fthis is not the case, I have lost all respect for Barack Obama.

[Young Atheart]

Ofcourse...No former Hillary staffer can be take another job unless it is a personal attack on Hillary.

[jill]

It makes no difference because we do not want Hillary on an Obama ticket. Although I would not vote for an Obama ticket with Hillary as VP, I am afraid that he could get elected if Hillary accepted the VP slot and then Hillary would get blamed for everything Obama doesn't get done. Good riddens to Patti, if as these media are suugesting that she was the problem in Hillary's camp. I am concerned that her husband was working for Obama and wonder just how much inside info Obama gained from Patti.

Country over Party
VOTE McCAIN 2008 and HILLARY 2012

[Jorge in Texas]

First, I am not a Democrat... so don't fill me with the "unity" thing.

I believe that the best thing Hillary can do is not to accept or not be forced into a joint ticket with Obama. It would be a good thing for the party but worst possible future for her.

Obama is running as a Prophet.. and if you don't believe it, just check on the postings that say something like "only a strong soul would be a good match for BO"... these kind of politicians go up fast but go down faster and harder.

Now, regarding the camp-jumper... tsss! that is expected everywhere... Et tu, Patti Solis Doyle?

[Joan]

Who said she spent hours looking at soap operas?. Did the Clinton camp spread that lie in order to justify firing her?. That whole comment sounds like gossip spin to me.

December 2007 Atlantic Magazine talks about Bill Clintons' effort to get Solis fired because he thought she lacked experience having never run a campaign before. So, how do you discredit and push someone out of a job?. You tell lies that are not too unbelieveable to achieve your objective.

[Joan]

I'm an Obama supporter; initially a Clinton supporter until the crying fiasco that was New Hampshire.

These older women who refuse to vote for Obama are women who for decades tooks lots of emotional and probably sexual abuse at the hands of their husbands and male colleagues at work.

I try to understand where they're coming from in their anger toward Obama. I think they pinned all their hopes on Clinton validating their decades of struggles against men-of their age, who had no respect or regard for women as human beings.

They dissapointment they feel is real, however, at this time in our nations' history, they must rise above their own personal hurts and dissapointments.

Our country needs a major change of course. The last 71/2 years have nearly destroyed our Constitution. These women have to put their own personal feeling aside and think of the good of our nation. For generatons they fought for women's rights, job rights, healthcare, education and on and on. To throw it all away on a Republican would do damage to untold generations. Make no mistake the next president will pick a Supreme Court Justice. I want that Justice to be picked by a Democratic President.

Our civil, legal, and reproductive rights are in jeopardy. This is no time to lose sight of the goal. We can't afford one more year of a Republican occupying The White House.

I desperately want these women to be remembered for their decision to put aside their dissapointment for the greater good of future generations. To give in to their dissapointment now would be heartbreaking, considering all they endured for decades.

[Hillarysupporter]

Re: Clinton Insiders Take Umbrage at Solis...
Obama and followers are taking umbrage at Clinton popularity, and Clinton followers refusal to jump on the Obama bandwagon. It will take a 'DREAM TICKET' to bring the two camps together. He still runs even in the polls with McCain, a LOOSER.

Keep in mind, the American people did speak out during the last half of the primary season and voted overwhelmingly for Clinton. In speaking out, the people sent a clear message that they want the Dems to win, and the only way to guarantee a win is to nominate both candidates on the same ticket.

IN FACT the only way to guarantee a win is to have a landslide vote, which requires both candidates. The Republicans have stolen the past two elections by manipulating the votes and voter registration at polling stations all over this country, in Republican-controlled states.If Florida taught us anything, it is that it takes a landslide vote to guarantee a win in this day and age.

[Randy]

Who wants to take back the country?

Obama-Clinton 08

[Emmanuel, London]

I know where this is heading. Just watch it. Blanche Lincoln is the next best alternative to Hilary in Obama/DNC's effort to unite the party and win over the £18million strong clinton women, blue-collar workers and rural american supporters.

Blanche is a staunch clinton supporter, while PSD is a strong Hillary insider. Make no bones about it, PSD would never join Obama campaign without Hillary's blessings. The token for PSD's appointment is because Obama is comfortable with her Southside Chicago roots and could have possibly had some contacts with her in the past.

How does this all work-out? Obama wants clinton's support without having to put her on the ticket. He's looking at putting a clinton person on the ticket instead. What does he do? Hire a clinton insider he is comfortable with to help vet his likely picks. Then enter Blanche Lincoln, with a name an impressive political records to booth. Arkansas senator, Hillary supporter, a farmer's daughter and the name Lincoln! What other political assets does a candidate want?