Penn Overruled: No Negative Ads Against Obama By Hillary

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 01:49:12 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

This is good news all around. Good for Hillary for rejecting the awful advice from the Mark Penn contingent in her camp and good for Democrats - no need to run down the likely nominee:

The Hillary campaign, which has promised a sharpening of "contrast" between her and Obama in the days ahead, appears to have concluded that they won't be running any ads against Obama in the run-up to the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday

Here is some news for Penn - that won't work in South Carolina either.

Hilary needs to run a campaign focused on her strengths playing to her partisan base (in itself an implict contrast to Obama) and let the chips fall where they may. Win or lose, be proud of your campaign. She is better than a cheap, tawdry Mark Penn led campaign.

< Record Turnout Predicted in New Hampshire, Odd Rules Abound | Congress Passes Funding for 200 More DEA Agents >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Penn Overruled: No Negative Ads Against Obama By Hillary | 8 comments (8 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

As I suspected (none / 0) (#1)
by MarkL on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 02:33:50 PM EST

This was not something I expected Hillary to do.
I'm sure she WILL draw contrasts--just not slimy ones like we saw reported last night.

How do you know Penn is to (none / 0) (#2)
by oculus on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 02:34:49 PM EST

blame for this stuff? Maybe it was from Wes Clark, M. Albright, or BIll Clinton.

Track record(s)? n/t (none / 0) (#3)
by oldpro on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 02:49:16 PM EST

: If I knew the answer, I wouldn't (none / 0) (#4)
by oculus on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 02:58:57 PM EST

have asked the question, which you answered w/a question. What is Penn's track record besides representing employers against unions and representing Blackwater?

not enough time (none / 0) (#5)
by Jgarza on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 03:08:38 PM EST

Clinton advisers said Friday that they would not mount a negative advertising campaign against Mr. Obama in New Hampshire, saying the primary was too soon for such an onslaught to have any effect.

It sounds like they just realized they wouldn't have time for anything to work. I actually think it helps Obama now and in the general for them to go negative.

Here is some news for Penn - that won't work in South Carolina either.
Hilary needs to run a campaign focused on her strengths playing to her partisan base (in itself an implict contrast to Obama) and let the chips fall where they may. Win or lose, be proud of your campaign. She is better than a cheap, tawdry Mark Penn led campaign.

Couldn't have said that better myself, the real danger with them going negative on Obama, is that they are going to hurt the Clinton brand, and lets face it president Hillary or not, Clinton's are a big asset to Dems, i wold hate to see them destroy their brand.

Hillary appeared to telegraph (none / 0) (#6)
by kovie on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 04:33:03 PM EST

what I can only assume is her belief that Obama's the likely nominee at this point when, in her post-Iowa speech, she spoke of sending a "Democrat" to the White House, and not herself specifically. If so, it makes sense that she'd not want to go negative and hurt her party's chances in November (and her own political future) in a likely futile attempt to beat Obama. At least this is how I read it. Perhaps this is her way of getting a say on a plank or two at the convention, perhaps the VP slot, or a role in his administration (should he win).

negative ads? (none / 0) (#7)
by Korioth on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 06:19:07 PM EST

I couldn't help myself. I had to write about this in my blog. I've linked to this article.

There is no way Hillary won't go negative. But if you're planning on going negative it never hurts to deny you'll do it before you launch into excess.

I love talkleft!

http://leftorama.blogspot.com/

Tommy

Hillary (none / 0) (#8)
by diogenes on Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 07:00:37 PM EST

Negative won't work now. If it looks like it will work (focus groups, etc) then she'll do it; integrity and pride are not in her vocabulary. If she loses the nomination, she'll subtly sabotage Obama in the hopes of pulling a Richard Nixon in 2012 when she'll be even more "experienced" in hedging votes in the Senate.