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Clinton Campaign Has First Shake-Up

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January 08, 2008 2:13 PM

ABC's Kate Snow, Teddy Davis and Mark Halperin report: Even before polls closed in New Hampshire, there was a top-level shake up in the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Maggie Williams, Clinton’s former chief of staff when she was First Lady and a long time Clinton confidante, will be taking the reins at the campaign and be in charge of day to day operations.

ABC political contributor Matthew Dowd and a longtime campaign strategist, says he expects Maggie Williams to make signfiicant, noticable changes in the Clinton campaign very quickly.

"One thing I would expect is she will change the way the campaign deals with the press. I would expect the press to have much more access to Hillary Clinton," Dowd said.

It is unclear who, if anyone, will be departing the Clinton campaign’s top ranks as Williams arrives. In recent days, since the stinging loss in the Iowa Caucus, there have been rumors that Patti Solis Doyle, campaign manager, and Mark Penn, campaign pollster, might be departing.

There were reports earlier in the day that perhaps the Clintons would turn to oldfriends like James Carville and Paul Begala for help.

However Carville told ABC News from Houston by telephone that he hasn't been tapped.

"I am not joining the campaign," Carville said, "I have had no discussions with them about that."

When reached by ABC News, Begala emphatically said he is not, and will not, be joining the Clinton campaign as an adviser.  He also said that he will not be joining the Clinton campaign in an unpaid role.
"It's not going to happen. I'm not being cute here," Begala told ABC News. Begala says that he has not been asked by the Clinton campaign because they know that he has commitments that would prevent him from doing so.

Campaign officials who asked to remain anonymous told ABC News that after the Iowa caucuses, former President Bill Clinton was fuming. "You could see him firing people in his head," said one Clinton campaign staffer. However he knew it wouldn't look good to make changes after Iowa with just five days to go until the New Hampshire vote. 

Penn's future remained unclear today, despite his being a longtime ally of the former president. President Clinton defended him when a Dartmouth student asked yesterday how Penn could have possibly said that there was no "bounce" for Obama coming out of Iowa.

"He was wrong about that.  Because the bounce always occurs on the second day, not the first day.  It always goes on the second day, not the first day," Clinton said.  But later added "You can take a shot at Mark Penn if you want. It wasn't his best day.  He was hurt, he felt badly that we didn't do better in Iowa.  But you know, the idea that one of these campaigns is positive and the other is negative when I know the reverse is true and I have seen it and I have been blistered by it for months, is a little tough to take."

Solis Doyle is deeply loyal to Hillary.  She has been part of "Hillaryland" since the early 1990s when she started as a scheduler in the First Lady's office.  She is very close to the Senator and is the mother of two young children.

Clinton may be more likely to bring new people on board to supplant senior members of the campaign, rather than firing them outright. 

January 8, 2008 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (22)

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So for Senator Hillary Clinton to pull an upset in NH, we had to catch a glimpse of emotion from her in an unguarded, uncalcaluated, non-strategic moment. I think she's been a good, not great U.S. Senator, but I have trouble with her inability to convey that she gets "it." I think she once did, but the Washington fray seems to have dried her out. I hope she trusts her instincts instead of her handlers more. She could use more pathos.

HONESTY: On the Democratic side Senator Clinton will win, I don't want her to but if it comes down to her and Huckabee or McCain then I'll take her.

HONESTY; Edwards deserves to and should win the Nomination/Presidency. He is and will make an excellent President. No one has exuded more honesty, passion and compassion in this race than him. He has fought hard and told the truth, if he dosen't win, I really hope to see him as Vice President or a key role appointment in a Democratic or Republican administration. Senator Edwards I can trust. He seems to understand and convey right now among most of the canidates both Republican and Democrat that he is the one willing to sacrifice and make the extremely tough choices facing us in the future, and he will do it in the context of just and fairness. I have no worries and no trouble believing Senator Edwards will do the right thing, for the right reasons and do them the right way.

Senator Obama - I really like and want Obama to win the Nonimation/Presidency. When I think of Obama I think of Martin Luther King Jr., Stephen Covey, Dr. Tom Peters, Anthony Robbins etc..I continue to listen and watch his interaction with people. Whoever he speaks to or whatever the topic he is engaging, authentic, very knowledgeable considering his experience, sincere, and genuine. I call that referent power and it truly is refreshing reminding me of Teddy Roosevelt and FDR. I see Senator Obama as a person of unity and not divisiveness. He has just enough experience to lead, govern and mandate change to ensure a very strong domestic U.S. policy and economy. Obama has the ability to energize the United States presence globally and rebuild and restore lost respect not just among our key allies but other countries who currently may not be considered key on a strategic basis to us right now but will be long term. One of his best strentghs is relationship building. How could the US dollar and the trade deficit not get a bounce from that? No President will be elected with out a no holds barred strong foregin policy especially on Al-Qaeida/Taliban. Don't just check out his Illinois State and U.S. Senator record also be willing to check out his books, speeches etc..he fills the job description = U.S. President Barack Obama 2008. A great ticket would be Obama/Edwards or Edwards/Obama. A so-so ticket would be Clinton/Edwards or Clinton/Obama.

Republicans: I liked Mike Huckabee for a minute when he was on the HBO Bill Maher show. His minute has passed. I don't want a Romney/Edwards Romney/Obama or Romney/Clinton race. But I like Mitt Romney, and not because I have heard that Mormons are some of the nicest people in the world. I'm not Mormon, and Mormonism is not a cult - grow up and pick up a book or hit a website like www.lds.org. They have Articles of Faith and the Gospel Principles all tied to the Holy Bible. Although I haven't had the desire to read it, I hear the Book of Mormon reads like a story. There are always a few knuckle heads looking to give anything a bad reputation/connatation/name - if you let them instead of thinking for yourself. Are you listening Southern Baptist Convention? Anyone whose ancestry is deeply rooted in christianity recognizing the Father the Son, and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost is alright with a lot of folks. Oh yeah Mitt did bring credibility and profitability back to the crooked US Olympic Committee. He is a successful millionaire of his own business. BUT THE BEST PART? HOW DID A CONVERSATIVE CHRISTIAN AKA MORMON WIN AND BECOME GOVENOR OF ONE OF THE THREE MOST NOT JUST SOCIALLY LIBERAL STATES IN THE COUNTRY? HOW DID A REPUBLICAN BREAK BREAD WITH A DEMOCRATIC STATE LEGALIZING GAY MARRIAGE AND DO IT SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT BEING RECALLED ALA FORMER CA GOVENOR GRAY DAVIS? Ya'll actually buying into that Mitt flip/flop stuff. I want to know more and I'm gonna find out - because this is truly an anomaly in american politics. Could it be that the media, the liberals, the evangelicals all want us to think the same thing? Are Mormons baptized in complete submersion? Yes. Is there a bible in the pulpit? Yes, the King James version as a matter of fact along with the same dry hymnals sung every sunday in Presbyterian, Methodist and yes even Church of Christ. If you're looking for feet stomping beat then you better hit the Baptist service although the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is truly world renowned. Mormons do not pass the plate or ask for donations/contributions or special funds aka building funds etc... They build one new temple every day, They pay Tighes as the Holy Bible prescribes. They believe in family and the focus is on raising children to make a difference and be the most productive law abiding, scripture reading, tighe paying human beings possible. Mormons seem to be a good example of "paying it forward." There are no paid positions within the Mormon Church, so that makes them one of the worlds largest self sustaining volunteer communities not including Missionairies. Senator McCain, I live in Arizona. If we give you a post to bolster the U.S. security, track down the Taliban and Al Qaeida and rebuild our Armed Forces will you come home? (Ok, we'll throw in North Korea, and Iran. We'll even let ya have the Saudi's/Pakistan and Afganistan). What are you going to do about China/Russia?

Posted by: MDH | Jan 9, 2008 5:31:55 AM

who here remembers the title of this article? interested parties, let's focus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: jp | Jan 10, 2008 12:02:56 AM

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