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Mark Penn Says Hillary Clinton's Problem Was Money -- Even Though She Raised More Than $225 Million

June 08, 2008 5:30 PM

The New York Times Op-Ed page called in a number of political coroners to perform their own autopsies on Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Each has a point to make. Time's Mark Halperin and Politico's John Harris point to Clinton's loss of African-American support while Radar's Ana Marie Cox examines how Clinton may have done in by her own embrace of what Richard Hofstadter called the "paranoid style of American politics."

The University of Pennsylvania's Kathleen Hall Jamieson says Clinton could never get past her vote to authorize use of force against Iraq, the New Republic's Michelle Cottle sees significance in Clinton's wormy debate answer on then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's doomed proposal to give drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants, while the two Republicans whose opinions were solicited -- former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-NM -- saw sexism from the media and from superdelegates, respectively.

Only one actual member of the Clinton campaign took time out from his schedule to write something for the Times -- controversial consultant Mark Penn, who alone cited money as the reason Clinton lost.

"The Problem Wasn't the Message -- It Was the Money," wrote the man whose task was the message. While everyone loves to talk about the message, campaigns are equally about money and organization. Having raised more than $100 million in 2007, the Clinton campaign found itself without adequate money at the beginning of 2008, and without organizations in a lot of states as a result. Given her successes in high-turnout primary elections and defeats in low-turnout caucuses, that simple fact may just have had a lot more to do with who won than anyone imagines."

Let's just take a moment, however, to visit the facts on that one. Because when the books about this campaign are written, they should make clear that while Clinton's campaign spent money often unwisely, it never had any problem raising cash.

History will record that the Clinton campaign raised more than $225 million for her campaign -- and more than $200 million of that was for the primary.

Clinton fundraisers took in more than $100 million in the first five months of 2008 -- essentially matching what they raised in all of 2007.

The Clinton campaign had $50 in the bank as of Oct. 1, 2007, and $35 million in the bank as of Dec. 31, 2007.

Right before the Iowa caucuses, Penn told the Clintons that he was positive she was going to win, a high-level Clinton campaign source tells me. And he told them turnout wouldn't exceed 150,000 (it was more than 230,000 at the end of the day.)

Obama raised more than Clinton, no question. But Clinton's problem was not "the money." The money was there. How it was spent, and what it was spent on -- including some high-priced consultants -- well, that's another issue.

- jpt

June 8, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | Share | User Comments (199)

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LA in Indiana - My posting keeps disappearing

So you have not given any reason to vote for Obama, you just attack anyone that disagrees with you like Obama, someone brings up facts about Obama and you say it is taking out of context or misconstrued

But when Obama was in San Francisco talking to his elitist Billionaire friends of which William Ayers was part of - He stated this - "So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, and they cling to guns, or religion, or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them"

A racist is someone that has antipathy toward people who aren’t like them so thus he did call people racists!!

His mentor preached Racist items and Obama only disavowed the Pastored after the Pastor insinuated that Obama was a Liar because he is a politician!!


So give me facts that say differnetly.

On another note Obama signed on to the Bill that would of added another 1.50 tax to a gallon of gas!!

Yes he is fopr the poor just as he was for the poor in Chicago when he gave money to the slumlord Rezko!!

What a man!!

Posted by: spock | Jun 9, 2008 1:01:54 PM

NoMcSAME, I am curious! When you called Spock a liar, were you referring to his comments about the Bush tax cuts? If so, Spock is actually right on the money.

The Liberal mantra has been that the Bush tax cuts were for the rich. Yet, President Bush's 2001 tax cuts lowered the bottom two federal income tax rates: The 15% bracket became 10%, and the 28% bracket became 15%.

Another Liberal mantra is that the rich don't pay their fair share! That is a total myth. The top 25% of the nation's wage earners actually account for 86% of the total federal income tax revenue! The top 50% of the nation's wage earners account for 97% of the total federal income tax revenue. In 2006 the median household income was $48,000. So that means those households -- 50% of the nation's households -- that are making less than $48,000, cumulatively, are burdened with only having to account for just THREE PERCENT of the total federal income tax revenue. Now THAT IS THE TRUTH!

Posted by: James Danley | Jun 9, 2008 12:59:27 PM

Shar, first let me say that I do not hate Sen. Obama. I respect his right to believe in whatever he wants. Having said that...

The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright has admitted that his preaching has been based, in part, on the works of the "recognized pioneer" of Black Liberation Theology, James Cone. The following excerpts are quotes from James Cone:

"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."

"There is no use for a God who loves white oppressors the same as oppressed blacks. We have had too much of white love, the love that tells blacks to turn the other cheek and go the second mile."

"Black hatred is the black man's strong aversion to white society. No black man living in white America can escape it... While it is true that blacks do hate whites, black hatred is not racism."

You tell me, is that preaching unity between White America and Black America? Is it pro-America to preach destroying White America? This is the theology in which Sen. Obama has financially supported for 20 years. This is the theology in which Sen. Obama has raised his children. Do you honestly believe that Sen. Obama does not espouse these same beliefs? Don't get me wrong! Sen. Obama HAS THE RIGHT to espouse these beliefs. But the question is: Do you want the President of the United States of America wanting to destroy White America? HOW is THAT going to unify the country?

Posted by: James Danley | Jun 9, 2008 12:15:20 PM

Answer me this....what has Hillary done besides sleep next to Bill in the White House?? Exactly what "experience" does she really have....what foreign policy credetials does she have....besides Bosina of course, and voting for the war without reading the report?? She's an opportunist, a liar and morally corrupt.

Posted by: Shar | Jun 9, 2008 12:08:52 PM

Oppressed people have an
absolute and incontrovertible
right to destroy their
oppressors by all means fair
and foul until the oppressors
end their ways and adopt the
theology of reason, civility,
fairness and mutual
accommodation.

Posted by: anon | Jun 9, 2008 12:04:15 PM

Jeff wrote:

I'm supporting McCain to send a message to the DNC....

--------------------------

Hats off, and I'm sure the 4000 soldiers who will return home in body bags during the mccain administration will thank you, too.

Posted by: cindy | Jun 9, 2008 11:59:38 AM

RE: Trinity Church...if Obama only wanted political expediency he would have thrown the Rev, the church and it's members under the bus when the first video surfaced. He did not. When the storm/Rev got worse, he (rightly) then seperated himself from the Rev. Then, when the Father video was played, he was than forced to remove himself from the entire church. That showed character to do what he felt was right...but for your HATE mongers, there was no Wright answer. You just want to HATE the man and his message. May God help all of you.

Posted by: Shar | Jun 9, 2008 11:20:27 AM

spock, I call you a liar when you lie. Most of what you state regarding Senator Obama is a distortion or a lie. All you have to do is read to find the truth, not some spin that someone else stated. It's just THAT simple!

I'm still waiting for Obama's 'racist' quotes from you spock. When did he call anyone a racist??

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 11:11:03 AM

oh my len....you too??
lol all you guys have to do is READ, just a little.

Stop listening to sean hannity and read for yourself, research for yourself.

Speeches aren't enough, eh?! Research to find out all that Senator Obama HAS done, and stop with the lies and distortions.

RESEARCH and READ you'll feel better

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 11:03:02 AM

In Michigan, write-in votes are counted ONLY if that write-in candidate gives permission to the state to count them. If not, those votes are disqualified.

Posted by: Mary, MI | Jun 9, 2008 10:59:05 AM

So you call grandparents making sure their grandchild had the best education they could provide, elite?

A single parent trying to raise a child, and on food stamps....that would be elite? That is what you call privilege?

When you take out student loans to go to school, you call that privilege??

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 10:56:50 AM

@LA: It's the audacity to hope that at some point in this campaign we'll get a straight story from Obama that he doesn't have to walk back from a week later.

Speeches aren't enough. Hope is what you have when you don't have a plan.

Posted by: len | Jun 9, 2008 10:54:34 AM

lol spock, come back with some HONEST discussion.

Right now all you're using are republican talking points....

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 10:14:37 AM

Isn't it funny....they call Obama 'elitist'....

When this man ran for the Senate he had holes in his shoes and two suits....raising two girls and paying off their school loans....

For those not educated enough to understand....when you have school loan debt, that means no one gave you money, you had to do it on your own.

His money came from writing his two books....best sellers.
Yeah, I can see how that would make you an elitist.

The republicans are shaking in their boots.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 10:07:35 AM

Even before Iowa and a single vote had been cast, Drudge Report was running stories asking "Is Hillary finished?". After she bounced back in New Hampshire TV reporters were saying "Hillary just won't go away". The media wanted her out and sent up a daily barrage against her from the start until they got her farewell speech. Brokaw is right - the media has to look at itself and ask exactly why Hillary was given this unprecedented treatment!! The media played a huge role in creating a wave for Obama and shutting down Hillary. Why?

Posted by: hopesprings52 | Jun 9, 2008 10:07:14 AM

The nice thing about a republic is we don't need a reason to vote against Obama. We just do it.

In a race where the center has evaporated and neither the left nor right have offered substance, one needs no defense nor must offer any reason for the vote. Just vote.

Posted by: len | Jun 9, 2008 10:05:40 AM

dl - you say that the Bush cuts did not work, i love liberal propaganda - the Bush cuts increased the exempt status from 14500 to 20000, it lowered taxes for everyone that pays, for example if the tax cuts were to expire, a family of 4 making 50000 a year will see an increase of 3000 dollars a year in taxes, yes 3 Thousand dollar increase. and then add the trillions of dollars that Obama wants to spend on top of that, the average family or individual is looking at for every dollar they make 80 cents will go to the Government.

In NJ we pay gas tax, tolls like no tomorrow, and what do we get for it on the roads, pot holes everywhere, traffic jams. OK so it is up to the states to fix their roads, you pay for it in the gas tax also, and other taxes, property being one!!

The Bush Tax cuts as a statement of fact brought in MORE revenue to the Federal Government then ever before, why is that , because it allowed more people to work!! thus more income going out!!

But again are you one of those libs that does not pay taxes, because it seems a lot are coming out of the wood work!!

By the way you can always pay more voluntarily, just send them a check!! Do push on us to pay more!!

Oh thats right Libs are generous with the middle classes money but not their own!!!

A vote for Obama is a Vote for the End of Liberty!!

Posted by: spock | Jun 9, 2008 9:54:49 AM

spock, you too are a liar.

Senator Obama called NO ONE a racist.

Apparently, the only way for you guys to make yourselves feel better is to LIE.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 9:50:01 AM

Responding to JRS from yesterday, @ 7:17:06 PM

You, sir (or madam), are a liar. And I am SICK AND TIRED of you and your ilk posting the same crap over and over, putting your dishonest spin on everything trying to pass it off as fact.

Senator Barack Obama DID NOT play any type of race card, and just because you keep saying it doesn't make it true. If you want to vote for McCain, then do so....but don't keep perpetuating the same lie in order to do it.

Your continuous, deceitful attempt to make it sound like Bill Clinton dedicated his life to nothing BUT helping black people, puhleeeze....give me a break! THAT is the biggest fairytale than anything else you have muttered.

FoxNews found 3 or 4 snippets of Jeremiah Wright's controversial comments from preaching over 36 years....36 YEARS, and it is extremely disingenuous for you to call this former marine and minister who has helped the poor, no matter what race, a racist, and state all he did was spew racism and hate for 20 yrs. Again, if you don't want to vote for Senator Obama, then don't. But stop with the lies and distortions of his life's work.
Senator Obama attended this church and stated, unequivocally, that these snippets, the 30 second, taken out of context soundbites of sermons were not....REPEAT....WERE NOT the typical Sunday sermon.

So find another bs reason not to vote for him, and leave all the spin, the lies and distortions, to obsessed with Obama hannity.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 9:47:16 AM

Hate to be a party pooper for Obama supporters, oh what am i saying!!

Hilary won the popular vote, which then the dems by their own words should of given her the nomination, since in 2000 they cried and said the popular vote should win. and that the electoral college was too confusing!! Well guess what the electoral college is not confusing, but the dems want to make it confusing!!

The reason Hilary did not win is because she is a female and Obama is a Black Male, in the Dem party the race card trumps the gendar card!!

So far Obama has called everyone that did not vote for him a racist - See comments in San Francisco in front of his elitest billionaire friends.

A vote for Obama is a vote for the destruction of the United States, his plans will take away our liberty, increase gas prices to a point no one could drive, except his billionaire friends!!
Food prices will soar so all you will have to eat is crumbs.
Oh thats right he said this is what we should be like like, see his speech- America should not be driving SUV,s or big cars, and we should eat more simplier because Europe looks at us for this!!

Obama the Stalinist Marxist who like a Queen of England tells the people to eat cake!! (oh thats right he wants them to starve, no cake)

Posted by: spock | Jun 9, 2008 9:43:55 AM

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