Clinton campaign demonstrates repeated incompetence

[Undertoad]

In the last ten days they have looked really bad.

The campaign fired campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle.

The chief complaints were several. One was that Solis Doyle's insistence that Clinton not begin to run for president until the she formally decided to run had put her at a tremendous fundraising disadvantage. Another was that Solis Doyle, a native of Chicago, did not fully anticipate the threat that Barack Obama would pose and therefore did not come up with a strategy to contain his candidate. A third was that Solis Doyle was not adept at managing what amounted to a 500 person corporation. A fourth was that, in managing the corporation, the care and feeding of important Democrats -- the large universe of Clinton advisers outside the campaign -- fell by the wayside.

Clinton heard these complaints -- some of them having merit, others not -- and stuck by Solis Doyle.

Hired originally for her loyalty instead of competence; kept on for her loyalty -- echoing some of the biggest complaints people have about the Bush administration.

Then it turned out that the campaign had not worked out how Texas delegates are apportioned, and were taken by surprise by it, after a rule change that took place last year.

Now today it turns out that they have screwed up Pennsylvania:

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign failed to file a full slate of convention delegate candidates for Pennsylvania's April 22 primary.

This despite the possibility the primary proves critical and despite Clinton owning the full-throated support of Gov. Rendell, state Democratic Party leadership, Mayor Nutter and, presumably, the organizational skill all that entails.

And despite a Rendell-ordered extension of the filing deadline that could be viewed as more than just coincidental.

Even with special help from Fast Eddie, they wind up 10% short on delegates in PA. It turns out to be mostly a cosmetic problem, but not so unimportant that they didn't refuse help from Rendell.

Yesterday, the idea floated that the Clinton campaign would be "lobbying pledged delegates" -- not "superdelegates", but the delegates won by other candidates, reflecting the will of the voters -- and today they retracted the idea with force after total public outrage.

If she ran the country the same way she's running the campaign, it would be... bad.

[SteveDallas]

Yeah, but you got to admit, people just aren't used to Pennsylvania primaries actually mattering.

[deadbeater]

The Jim McMahon approach to campaigning that Clinton is evidently deploying after February 5th is not working.

Quoted from 'The SuperBowl Shuffle:
I'm the funky QB known as McMahon
When I hit the turf I got no plan
Ijust throw my body all over the field'

[elSicomoro]

I really think Hillary thought she was going to have a cakewalk. And she might have...if Barack Obama hadn't spoken at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

[classicman]

I, for one, am enjoying watching this.

[tw]

Originally Posted by sycamore

I really think Hillary thought she was going to have a cakewalk.

Reported was a Clinton strategy to wrap it up on Super Tuesday. However, the old rule still applies. Those who are leading before the Super Bowl tend not to be the leaders come convention time. Clinton in 1991 was all but unknown until after the TV show that followed the Super Bowl - 60 Minutes. And again, both parties have demonstrated the rule. A message to both parties that they spend too much time and money on these campaigns. And they spend too much money calling us at home with recorded messages.

[HungLikeJesus]

At least most of the money they spend is going back in the US economy. Unless those calls are coming from India.

[deadbeater]

Knowing Clinton, they might. I know McCain's are. Just kidding.

[deadbeater]

Whomever came up with that 'Change you can Xerox' line in the Austin debate should be fired on the spot.

[TheMercenary]

As long as Obama wins, I don't care what slogans they use.

[elSicomoro]

Last poll I saw had Obama up on McCain by something like 9 points, but Clinton behind McCain by 12. Something like that...doesn't really mean shit at this point. Well, not exactly...it shows an interesting contrast.

[TheMercenary]

I wonder if she will throw in the towel if she loses both Texas and Ohio or either one.

[lookout123]

hell no. i would expect her to push, pull, threaten, and bribe the delegates before she'll admit that america, er i mean - her party didn't want her.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by lookout123

hell no. i would expect her to push, pull, threaten, and bribe the delegates before she'll admit that america, er i mean - her party didn't want her.

Nothing would please me more than to see her go down in flames.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Flames are good for heating -- and eating it too.

Everyone knows whether or not I'd vote for a Democratic candidate -- nothing of recent note has caused me to change that.