Sunday NYT story: "Soldiering On, but Somber as the Horizon Darkens" (regrets and recriminations)

[Pirate Smile]

Soldiering On, but Somber as the Horizon Darkens


While Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has not given up, advisers say, she has the perspective of a realist: someone has to lose.

By PATRICK HEALY
Published: February 24, 2008

To her longtime friends, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sounds unusually philosophical on the phone these days. She rarely uses phrases like “when I’m president” anymore. Somber at times, determined at others, she talks to aides and confidants about the importance of focusing on a good day’s work. No drapes are being measured in her mind’s eye, they say.

-snip-
Over take-out meals and late-night drinks, some regrets and recriminations have set in, and top aides have begun to face up to the campaign’s possible end after the Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4. Engaging in hindsight, several advisers have now concluded that they were not smart to use former President Bill Clinton as much as they did, that “his presence, aura and legacy caused national fatigue with the Clintons,” in the words of one senior adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity to assess the campaign candidly.

The campaign’s chief strategist, Mark Penn, and its communications director, Howard Wolfson, have expressed frustration with the difficulty of “running against a phenomenon” in Senator Barack Obama; their attacks have not stopped Mr. Obama from winning the last 11 contests. Some aides said Mr. Penn and the former campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, had conceived and executed a terribly flawed campaign, something Ms. Solis Doyle disputes. Both she and Mr. Penn have been especially criticized as not planning a political strategy to compete in the primaries after Feb. 5.

-snip-
There is a widespread feeling among donors and some advisers, though, that a comeback this time may be improbable. Her advisers said internal polls showed a very tough race to win the Texas primary — a contest that no less than Mr. Clinton has said is a “must win.” And while advisers are drawing some hope from Mrs. Clinton’s indefatigable nature, some are burning out.

Morale is low. After 13 months of dawn-to-dark seven-day weeks, the staff is exhausted. Some have taken to going home early — 9 p.m. — turning off their BlackBerrys, and polishing off bottles of wine, several senior staff members said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/us/politics/24mood.html?ex=1361509200&en=50e3a937a353a972&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Lots more - "Some advisers have been heard yelling at close friends and colleagues...Others have taken several days off, despite it being crunch time...some of her major fund-raisers have begun playing down their roles,..."

[angie_love]

1. I do feel bad for her...

[gaiilonfong]

5. DON'T n/t

[Cha]

29. I feel bad for the Soldiers and the

Iraqis who have died and been maimed in this politically expedient War On Iraq that she was so gung ho for when it was popular.

[WilliamPitt]

2. It's a hard hustle to do the campaign trail.

Win or lose, everyone who worked that campaign served their country and are true patriots.

[Johnny__Motown]

6. Can I stay in the "Four Seasons" and be a patriot too? Please....

Gimme a break

[WilliamPitt]

7. Ever done one?

[Johnny__Motown]

13. No, but clearly the people making millions off of this and staying in 4 star hotels are not doing ..

this out of patriotism.

If they were then they would sacrifice for the good of our nation (unless you and I define patriotism differently).

Your post is pure BS

[democrattotheend]

20. That's not who the poster is talking about

He/she was talking about all the staffers below that level who have worked their hearts out for the past year for very little pay. My heart goes out to those people...working on a campaign is exhausting and requires you to give 110% every day, and to have it all be for a candidate who loses is pretty painful.

[democrattotheend]

18. Agreed. I feel really bad for her staff

I was an intern on Dean's campaign in 2004, and I remember how demoralized everyone became at the end. Reading that article almost made me cry remembering how painful it was.

[antigop]

3. "...a terribly flawed campaign"...wait a minute.. I thought it was "flawless".Which is it? n/t

[Cha]

30. Flawless until Iowa and

teetering over into getting its Flaw on after Iowa.

[lapfog_1]

4. I will say this...

Hillary is a good campaigner. But the campaign was horrible. And no, those are not incongruous at all.

[Alhena]

8. Interesting that her internal Texas polls look bad

[Drunken Irishman]

10. I think that Texas poll showing Obama up big is right.

I've heard Obama's internals show him up by a wide margin in Texas. I think she's done and she realizes this, though I wonder why she decided to go negative in the final hours of her campaign.

[TexasObserver]

15. Yes, she's beaten in Texas, and she has to know it by her internals.

That's why she's so angry and off the leash today about Ohio.

She's going out badly.

[VolcanoJen]

22. I might be reading between the lines....

... but I read that lashout in Cincinnati today as an indication that her internal Ohio polls are looking as bleak as the Texas internals.

Or maybe I'm just hoping that way. :-)

[TexasObserver]

27. She may be losing in Ohio, already, too, but I don't know that for sure.

Texas, I know pretty sure she's getting soundly beaten.

[Johnny__Motown]

11. no it isn't

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/22/01357/3030/71/455547

[Cha]

31. "TEXAS BLACKS ARE FIRED UP"

<snip>

"Today I talked to a reporter working on a piece on the Obama movement, who had just returned from Texas to see the Obama ground game close up. I asked if it lived up to the hype. He said that he had gone down there cynical, not expecting much, but had been utterly blown away. His piece will be out next week I think, and I can't wait to read the details. But bottom line is that Obama has run a volunteer-driven ground game while the Clintons thought they'd run an advertising air war.

There's a reason Obama is outperforming the polls and even my most optimistic vote predictions -- his volunteer-driven ground game is blowing whatever meager operation Clinton has completely out of the water.

The numbers are moving dramatically in Obama's direction right now. He's going to win Texas, and win it comfortably. Here's the thing -- if the Texas election were today, Obama would likely win it by 10 points, regardless what the polls say. His ground operation is that good."

Thanks, Johnny Motown.

[Adelante]

14. Yesterday they were telling donors the internals looked good

So this is different.

[Drunken Irishman]

16. Well they have to tell them something positive.

Can't really admit you're losing in Texas if you want more money.

[thevoiceofreason]

9. In the NYT? No way! It has been on her staff, right?

[Johnny__Motown]

12. It may need a re-write after today's freak out, To big a story to leave out

[avrdream]

17. I predict this will be another thread where BO supporters gloat!

[democrattotheend]

19. Not this BO supporter

I worked on Dean's campaign in 2004, and I remember how painful it was at the end. My heart will go out to Clinton supporters if she withdraws the same way it went out to Edwards supporters when he dropped out. I applaud everyone on her staff below the top who has worked their heart out on her campaign, and I will be very sympathetic if things don't go their way.

[Pirate Smile]

23. Some of us remember how heartbreaking it can be when the candidate you are supporting is essentially

done. I certainly do feel for the people dealing with that now. It sucks. :( I know and I'm sorry.

[NorthernSpy]

32. No. I know all too well what losing feels like.

:hug:

[windbreeze]

33. anyone who has now or in the past supported any other candidate

and I mean really supported them, by working on their campaign, being in there making phone calls, writing letters, and donating money, KNOWS...how losing feels...It is NOT fun...and it IS a hard thing to face.....I can't even imagine being Clinton or one of her supporters and watching her lose like she is...I can only say, I would hope she's losing for reasons other than because she's a woman...and I sure as hell won't gloat...because I know how this feels..(and no I am not an Obama supporter...but I was a diehard Clarkie....so every time another candidate loses out...I kinda feel a sense of dismay and compassion for their supporters, all over again)wb

[VolcanoJen]

21. This is the line that really grabbed me.

Engaging in hindsight, several advisers have now concluded that they were not smart to use former President Bill Clinton as much as they did, that “his presence, aura and legacy caused national fatigue with the Clintons,” in the words of one senior adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity to assess the campaign candidly.

We should all be thankful this moment happened during the primaries instead of the general. I was always concerned that "Clinton fatigue" would set in by Labor Day for too many Americans.

[Colobo]

24. It's sad, but that's life. Win sometimes, lose sometimes.

I'm glad my candidate is about to beat her, though. :bounce:

[ErnestoG]

25. She can withdraw nicely back to the Senate. She has a fine gig there.

But what drives her is a white hot sense of political entitlement for White House.

[Shine]

26. My heart feels badly for her. She's given a lot and I'm sure this is personal for her.

:(

[Cha]

28. Yep as the clinton supporter said..

"she's very smart".. "..at some point, she is known to say, someone will win and someone will not.