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Clinton Texas Coordinator: '3 AM' Ad Too Late

March 04, 2008 11:44 AM

Garry Mauro, a longtime Clinton family friend and the Texas state coordinator for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., told ABC News that the Clinton campaign waited too long before challenging the national security credentials of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"I find it fascinating that asking the question 'Who do you want to answer a telephone at 3 o'clock in the morning when there is a problem?' is a big problem," Mauro said about the controversial Clinton ad running in Texas that implies Obama would not effectively be able to keep the nation safe. "That is a question that should have been asked from day one."

Asked if he was faulting the campaign's senior advisers for waiting until the waning days of the Texas race before running that ad, Mauro said, "I am from Texas and we get to second-guess everybody. We get to second-guess our football coaches first and our politicians next. And yeah, I can second-guess their political decisions just like I second-guess the calls that are played on the football field, but that doesn't accomplish much."

Mauro made the comments in an interview that ran on last night's "Nightline".

The Clintons have known Mauro since they came to Texas in 1972 to work for the ill-fated presidential campaign of Sen. George McGovern.

"Looking back on it, we were tilting at windmills," Mauro said.

"Hillary Clinton was probably the most unusual person I had ever met," Mauro recalled of those times. "She was compelling, she was scary smart."

Of Bill Clinton, Mauro said, "What can I say about him that hasn't already been said?"

Four times elected Texas Land Commissioner, Mauro said he stayed in touch with the Clintons fairly regularly.

"Any time either one of them would come to town we'd have a little homecoming at some Mexican restaurant and eat lots of enchiladas and tacos. And then I was fortunate enough to serve in the late 80s on the Wal-Mart environmental board with Hillary so we've kept up our contact."

In 1998, Mauro was the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the state, and he was crushed by then-Gov. George W. Bush.

"I have been introduced upon occasion as Iraq being my fault," Mauro says. "I think people are joking."

Mauro predicted victory in Texas for Clinton on Tuesday, but, he argued it was more important for Obama to win the state.

"Barack Obama has two major weaknesses as a national candidate that he doesn't have much time to overcome. And both of them converge in Texas. He hasn't proven he can carry a big state outside of Illinois yet. There are only three big states left and we are one of the three. So I would suggest that Texas is more important to Obama than it is to Hillary. And secondly, any national coalition of voters to get the majority of the electoral votes require carrying a large percentage of the Hispanic community. And he has not been able to carry Hispanic voters in any significant numbers outside of Virginia. . . I think it's a challenge for him. He's gotta show some ability to go beyond yuppies and latte drinkers and African-Americans and I haven't seen that happening in Texas yet."

-jpt

March 4, 2008 in Weblogs | Permalink | Share | User Comments (22)

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I wish Hilary read Obama's speech in 2002, she would have been wiser, now its too late

Posted by: Who'Sane | Mar 4, 2008 6:57:39 PM

ASSUMING that I buy into the assertion that Senator Clinton has more "experience" - I prefer Obama with good judgement rather than Clinton with her "experience."

We need new ideas and leadership to stop this maga-trillion dollar war, solve the Katrina disaster, homelessness, the mortgagge crisis, South American looming conflicts, de-nuclearization, on and on. Experience matters little - Good Judgement is the key.

Posted by: dennis from TC | Mar 4, 2008 5:01:47 PM

"You must be an idiot" ?? (whatever)

If you think Hillary has a chance to win mathematically (put aside bluster and pundits . . . the delegate numbers just don't add up, do they).

If you think Hillary's serial cheap shot campaigning won't degrade the party's (Obama's) chances against McCain. Maybe that's not a bug but a feature . . . 2012 awaits for Hillary?

If you think Hillary's "35 years experience" were spent doing anything she can specify in detail that is better than what Obama has been doing the last 10-15 years in the Illinois State Legislature (with distinguished success there) and United States Senate, plus a prior career as law professor, Harvard Law and community organizer. Oh, and none of hers is foreign policy experience. And if you count her First Ladying as gov't experience, then I predict a 2012 GOP primary battle between Laura Bush and Barbara Bush.

Posted by: SamSinister | Mar 4, 2008 3:15:03 PM

hillary needs to go on. Bill Richardson needs to listen to the voters. Bill Richardson, do you want somebody in in the white house with out experience? Would you hire in your house an experience person to do your plumbing, electrical work, lay tile and paint your house. We believe that you wouldn't. That's the way the people feel.hellooooooo

Posted by: gloria L. | Mar 4, 2008 3:01:39 PM

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith...

Posted by: jacksmith | Mar 4, 2008 2:57:55 PM

Too little, too late, and frankly, too ugly.

From the Washington Post:

THERE'S THE BEEF
"During the course of our endless presidential campaigns, lots of silly things are said by the candidates and the press. But few are more ridiculous than the idea that Barack Obama is just an empty suit."

"We're talking here about a former president of the Harvard Law Review. Have you ever met the people who get into Harvard Law School? You might not choose them as friends or lovers or godparents to your children, but -- trust me on this -- there aren't many lightweights there. And Obama was chosen by all the other overachievers as top dog. Compared with the current leader of the free world, this guy is Albert Einstein."

Posted by: Jim | Mar 4, 2008 2:27:48 PM

Obama being on the Senate foreign Relations commitee has more foregn policy experience than Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan did. Neither of them had ever dealt with anything outside of their states.

Posted by: James | Mar 4, 2008 2:14:08 PM

Hey "BKMC", I see you are on this blog trying to hock the same, tired emotionally dismissive messaging to try to antagonize Hillary Clinton. If you want to convince us that we should be cursing Hillary Clinton instead of voting for her, could you use more facts and logic, please?

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 4, 2008 1:41:35 PM

"Obama was asked a handful of questions that would be asked of any poilitical candidate in these circumstances and Obama’s response was to personally attack a reporter and stalk away.
Read the full report in the Washington Post"

after he stuttered "yet, yet, yet, yet...", blamed Clinton, yelled at the reporters he stormed off.

Posted by: geevill | Mar 4, 2008 1:36:15 PM

Yuppies, Latte Drinkers and African Americans without which Hillary can not gain election in a national forum either. Hmmm, this genious has also forgotten about the independents and crossover republicans that Obama brings to the table. This arrogance is what cost Hillary so dearly.

Posted by: Lou | Mar 4, 2008 1:20:37 PM

look at all the Obama college paid students reeling on the blogs, but , but ,but .....

making the excuses now eh? ROFL

Obama has peaked , too bad it was too soon.

Posted by: eleven22 | Mar 4, 2008 1:17:39 PM

The reason why the Clintons waited so long before playing the fear card, was that McCain owns this issue. If she gets the nod, we will see the exact same ad in the general election, but with the Republicans doing the asking. Barack aleast has the Iraq decision as a come-back, I worry that the Hillary's "experience" myth won't be enough against McCain.

Posted by: steve | Mar 4, 2008 1:04:50 PM

I don't think the Clinton campaign wants to get into the Rezko thing too deeply--you know what they say about people in glass houses. Their background is littered with friends and associates and fundraisers who are far worse than Rezko and with whom they had far closer dealings.

Posted by: jenn | Mar 4, 2008 12:59:39 PM

Obama was asked a handful of questions that would be asked of any poilitical candidate in these circumstances and Obama’s response was to personally attack a reporter and stalk away.
Read the full report in the Washington Post.

Posted by: pat | Mar 4, 2008 12:46:50 PM

Some uneducated people think Hillary is about them...No!Hillary has always been about herself including sticking to a cheating husband for political goals;maybe that is 21st century feminism.

Posted by: tiredOfHillarry | Mar 4, 2008 12:31:38 PM

It sure looks like the momentum is shifting to Hillary Clinton.

In other news, Chicago is reporting that Obama is now under investigation by the feds in the Rezko case and may be called as a witness.

Will Obama plead the 5th?

Update: Saw a video of Obama telling ABC News last night that it would be up to his attorneys to decide about his testimony in the Tony Rezko federal corruption trial, which started yesterday.

Anyone elese heard about this latest development?

Posted by: USVet | Mar 4, 2008 12:30:59 PM

It sur elooks liek the momentum is shifting to Hillary Clinton.

In other news, Chicago is reporting that Obama is now under investigation by the feds in the Rezko case and may be called as a witness.

Will Obama plead the 5th?

Saw a video of Obama told ABC News last night that it would be up to his attorneys to decide about his testimony in the rezko case.

Anyone elese heard about this latest development?

Posted by: USVet | Mar 4, 2008 12:29:29 PM

Hillary, have you ever had a 3am moment. Answer. No, but I believe I am more prepared to answer that call.

But you did not read the NIE report before voting.

Posted by: james | Mar 4, 2008 12:08:23 PM

FACT: Hillary Clinton has NO national security credentials!

REPORT THAT!

Posted by: Annasia | Mar 4, 2008 12:05:09 PM

Do the math:

It's the delegates, stupid!

Hillary can't catch up. It's mathematically impossible short of a landslide (65% or more) in all the remaining contests.

If she hangs on after today, she will only harm the party's chances. She has gone increasingly negative, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Obama. This will take a toll if it continues for months. She won't win even though she's playing dirty, but it will give plenty of material for the GOP to work with.

It is a choice of putting personal ego ahead of the party. Does Hillary really want the Democrats to lose just to spite them if she can't be the nominee? Is Hillary really a Nader-like figure, who would rather the whole country go down i nflames than let a rival like Gore win in 2000?

This is dangerous for the party and the coutnry. We can't afford four more years of GOP rule. Is Hillary going to damage our nominee and make that happen? Does she want to be responsible for destroying America only out of spite, out of being a sore loser?

If Hillary doesn't bow out on March 5th, the party should, as Bill Richardson said, come together around whoever has a substantial lead in the delegate count -- Obama. We need to end this as a party and not let Hillary's personal ego ruin 2008 for us.

The GOP wants this to go on. The media loves bloody conventions for ratings. The Dems should be smart and wrap this up. We can't lose the country just because one woman doesn't know how to lose with honor!!

Posted by: Kelly Anne | Mar 4, 2008 12:04:39 PM

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