Mark Penn's Firm Paid $4.3 Million By Clinton Campaign

Even if his candidate fails to secure the Democratic nomination, Mark Penn, the chief strategist for Sen. Hillary Clinton, has profited quite handsomely.

Through the course of the primary, Penn's consulting firm, Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, has been paid more than $4.3 million by the Clinton campaign, according to a review of campaign finance filings.

That total, compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, includes receipts for tasks ranging from polling and consulting to mail expenses and even photography. It does not include the $1.5 million the Clinton campaign is in debt to the firm.

Sen. Barack Obama's chief adviser, David Axelrod, has not done too poorly either. His firm, AKP media (for which Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe also serves) was paid more than $1 million by the Obama campaign, primarily for media activities.

Neither campaign returned requests for comment.

It is not uncommon for candidates to spend their cash on the firms and companies associated with their advisers. And the elongated primary, combined with the historic fundraising totals, have pushed campaign expenditures increasingly higher. Still, the totals taken in by Penn and, to a lesser extent, Axelrod represent significant hauls for a year-plus work.

Broken down by purpose the Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates's receipts read like this:

• $1.7+ million for consulting, roughly $530,000 of which have come in the last quarter;
• $2.6+ million for mail expenses;
• $15,000 for travel;
• $7,000 for printing;
• $4,500 on photography.

As for AKP, the rough tallies breakdown as such:

• $17,000 for mail services;
• $530,000 for media consulting;
• $140,000 for activities deemed "miscellaneous media;"
• $335,000 for broadcast media.

Comments

[anfractuous]

Well, at least it hasn't gone to his head, exclusively.

[SeaOats]

What a total waste of money. Hill & Bill are smarter and more politically savvy than any of these high-priced consultants.

Obama '08

[AZModerate]

Penn and Rove would make the cutest couple.

[pheepher]

Let's give it to the Hillary camp! Looks like she is getting a similar return on her investment as Mitt.

[semorg]

So Hillary gave 4 to 1 to consultant had the name recognition and was 20-30 points ahead and still tied with Obama. Not the best return on investment I hope this is not how she is going to manage the economy.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

Dear Mr Penn,

I have a very talented friend who works in media relation development, who is out of a job and you may want to take a look at.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA-451XMsuY

Best Wishes,
Louie_Louie

[realitytrumpsbull]

'Jowls', is that you?

LOL

[mommadona]

WOW - BOB SHRUM WOULD BE PROUD, PROUD I TELL YA.

OK - WHAT FOR?

HEY, HOW DO I GET A GIG LIKE THAT AND BE A ROVE LOOK-A-LIKE AT THE SAME TIME?

WOW.

ANOTHER REASON NOT TO VOTE FOR HILLBILL CLINTON.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE MONEY.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO HIRE RESPECTABLE PEOPLE.

YEP. THAT ABOUT SUMS IT UP.

"VOTE FOR HILLARY IF YOU WANT A BUNCH OF

NO-TALENT, ROVARIAN SHILLS PAID MILLIONS FOR

BAD ADVICE TO BE HIRED IN THE NEXT PRESIDENCY".

[DBlake]

This morning on a conference call with reporters, Clinton strategist Mark Penn repeated several times that the Obama campaign is now the “establishment” campaign -- citing superior January fundraising, high-profile endorsements, and even Sunday’s Super Bowl ad.

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1708
.

[catharsis271828]

As an Obama supporter all I can say is good job Mr Penn. Maybe if Clinton doubles your salary then her support will start dropping twice as fast as it has been. Then after the election you can join Fox noise as a co-host with your doppelganger Karl Rove. Keep up the good work.

[shedances]

Good Lord, talk about gouging.

K

[evereye3]

Until now I thought Penn was a fool. Hillary was up by around 30 points nationwide and in most of yesterday's states a little over a month ago, now they are virtually tied...whe­re will they be in another month? Now I see he is terribly overpaid compared to the job Axelrod is doing for Obama, so Hillary is as least as big of a fool as Penn. Their strategy seems to amount to running down the clock before people realize how unprogressive she really is. It's too bad most people don't pay any attention until the last minute, if they ever do.

Heckuva job Penny!

[OtayPanky]

As someone who doesn't want to see the Clintons back in the White House, I think Mark Penn is doing outstanding work.

Maybe she can pay him another four large between now and March, so we can wrap this thing up.

[antiparanoid]

Maybe with a little more cash Quasimodo would clean up real nice. It's obvious Hillary decided to employ a Karl Rove of her own. Every step of her strategy (right down to the tears) screams loser trying to win anyway. And Penn earns millions telling her she's a shoe-in.

Piteeful, just piteeeeful.

[Bagger]

Mark Penn maybe a reason I can't stand Hillary. I can't stand looking at this over glorified used car salesman.