Mark Penn Out as Clinton's 'Chief Strategist'
Drew Friedman
Mark Penn has stepped down as the Clinton campaign's chief strategist, but his firm will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign.
The campaign's message strategy will now be headed up by pollster Geoff Garin and communications director Howard Wolfson.
Penn had been the target of much criticism from Democrats, including some within the Clinton campaign itself, for his strategic decisions and manner of operation. But the ill-will toward him only came to head this weekend after it was revealed that he had advised Colombian officials on how to push for a bilateral trade agreement that Hillary Clinton, and the unions whose support she is courting, oppose.
Obama Vs. McCain Polling Data
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.4
- 41.6
- Obama +4.8
Favorable Ratings
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.7
- 32.7
- +23.0
- McCain
- 52.4
- 34.7
- +17.7
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So the pig has been demoted but his snout is still in the trough. Other than a bruised ego -- Penn counted on selling his wares as the genius behind Hillary's victory -- he is still looting the campaign. These people (the campaign) don't have a clue about how Penn is padding his bills, and how he will continue to do so until they throw him out completely.
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WHAT DID HILLARY (AND BILL) KNOW AND WHEN DID SHE KNOW IT?
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PENN COMMITTED THE 'CARDINAL SIN' --- HE GOT CAUGHT.
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IT REQUIRES A "WILLING SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF" TO THINK THAT HILLARY & BILL WERE NOT AWARE OF MARK PENN'S MEETING --- BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
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HILLARY LIES LIKE A DUBAI RUG.
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penn is not going anywhere, he just won't be 'front and center' anymore. those 3 am phone calls to hillary are going to come from mark with his new ideas on 'smear.'
Worth noting: putting personal loyalty above all is a trait Hillary shares with George W. Bush and means that's she's likely to put those loyalties above the interests of the Democratic party and the nation. Once again, the old politics from the Republocrat party she and McCain represent.
I think mr. penn knows what he is doing -
he probably did in on purpose - to have his cake and eat it;
he continues to maintain his top consultancies and instead of dumping Clinton - through her a bone and had her dump him;
to a certain extend this is cleaner and on the event of an Obama or Mccain's victory - he has already disassociated himself from the losing candidate; brilliant short term strategy;
an as another commentator stated - he is probably going to stay behind the scenes - just in case - Clinton is able to pull this off;
now i know why the Clinton's like this guy- he is brilliant;
Rats desperately trying to escape a sinking ship.
Rats desperately trying to escape a sinking ship.