Mark Penn: Obama Independent Support Would "Evaporate" In General Election

Election Central:

On a conference call with reporters just now, Hillary pollster Mark Penn sought to make the case for her electability by dredging up bad memories of the GOP and right-wing media's successful efforts to redefine Al Gore and John Kerry, arguing that Hillary wouldn't succumb to such tactics....

...Penn said that Hillary has "withstood" this process, while Obama would find that his independent support "would evaporate relatively quickly once he faced the Republicans." Penn added that the GOP "is already playing the national security card against Obama."

Read the whole story: Election Central

Comments

[illinoisan]

The fact that Mark Penn is still part of the Clinton campaign, or ever was a part of it, speaks volumes about Clinton's judgement.

To speak in her defense on one point though, a lot has been made about the inconsistancy of her apparent ignorance about the campaign's financial situation and her sudden and secret $5 mil loan. Speaking as somebody who has been lied to and knew the truth while it was happening, you want to give the liar plenty of rope to hang themselves with. That's why Clinton didn't tell her campaign manager about the loan, she didn't want to tip her off that she knew she was lying.

That said, these long, tortuous campaigns have the benefit of showing us how the candidate leads. There's no comparison between the way Clinton has led her campaign organization and the way Obama has led his. Obama wins hands down.

[drblack]

I represent Independents and I won't vote for Hillary...­I WILL Vote for Obama.

[pollster08]

Another Independent here voting for Obama!

[Bertrude]

One here and I ditto drblack's statement.

[Airborne2]

Poor Mark; He's getting short timer cramps, the HRC job is coming to a halt shortly. I must say for being a key management person in major Ad firm his smoke screen sucks channel water.....­..........­.the black and young person vote will leave him to once he is in battle with Dr. Strange Love......­..........­....

[horacekent]

Mark Penn is the Love Child of Eddie Haskell & Fat Bastard (from Austin Powers fame)

Go Obama!!

[repubstheirownworstenemy]

Hillary Clinton: brought to you by the same firm that represents Countrywide - the biggest scam artist in the middle of the sub-prime loan collapse.

Just warms the cockles of our hearts doesn't it?

[V4Vigilance]

Alternative Headline:

MARK PENN: MY GRAVY TRAIN WILL COME TO A SCREECHING HALT IF OBAMA IS NOMINATED.­..

OBAMA '08

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Mark Penn paid nearly 5 million dollars by Hillary campaign. I wonder if Hillary voters really wanted their hard earned dollars going in to this fat cat's pockets.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/06/mark-penns-firm-paid-4_n_85192.html

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Article by the DailyKos about Mark Penn

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/19/14124/0931/54/439292

[Lalo]

That's not an article. It's a whining nobody smearing a successful, if unpopular, businessman.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Penn & Blackwater -

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6219.html

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

I guess you'll make up any stupid lie, if you're being paid 5 million bucks by the Hillary campaign.

Mark Penn, the dirtbag who is "Worldwide President and CEO" of the fifth-largest public relations firm in the universe (Burson-Marsteller) while is also apparently the de facto campaign manager for Senator Clinton's presidential bid. He also presides over more than one Republican lobbying operation and a union-busting outfit that was once prominently featured on the Burson-Marsteller website.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=259940

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=250988

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070604/berman

[AxelDC]

Mark Penn gets paid $4.2 million to give Clinton bad campaign advice. That's proof enough for me that she is a lousy candidate.

[horacekent]

REASONS TO BE PROUD OF THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN

HILLARY HAS,...

- Successfully established herself as the presumptive, established Democratic nominee.
- Campaigned on the same, strong message, consistenly from day one.
- Inspired, motivated, & grown the Democratic Party
- Run on her merits, not reallying of the efforts of her husband, or his record.
- Put together the best politcal minds & experienced advisors to help in her campaign.
- Run a clean, respectful, unifying campaign.
- Successfully raised & manage all the funds necessary for her campaign.
- Avoided campaign 're-orgs' & maintained the same key members of her staff.
- Been very competitive in all primaries & caususes

Bottomline: Hillary & her campaign has been an oustanding success!!

[Ides]

--This has been brought to you by Mark Penn and the ministry of truth.

[Zhonni]

It is seasoned with sarcasm there mister.

[V4Vigilance]

ROTFLMAO!!!

MinneapolisMike, is that you?

OBAMA '08

[MNmommy]

Nope, just a republiscum troll.

[joselopez]

Horace. Clinton was the inevitable nominee and as of today she has lost more States and has less pledged delegates. She is having her daughter eat breakfast with Super Delegates (Shuster was right, she is being pimped out).

IF YOU CALL THAT A SUCCESS, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

[Zhonni]

If you combine both the super and pledge, Obama is now ahead.

[ntmessage]

Frankly, I don’t have anything nice to say about Mark Penn. He is an opportunist (released a book just before the campaign) and not worth whatever they pay him (goes without saying).

Part of the issue is with the DLC/DNC; the other is that Obama has not built up the trust factor with a large part of the population.

1. The Democrats will lose Florida and Ohio since punishing the voters in those states unfairly (don’t want to argue this point here, but this is how those voters feel right now). Most Independents, Reagan Democrats, Jewish voters (FL), Women and Hispanics there will easily go with McCain. Also, if Obama does not win a majority of the votes (not delegates) over Hillary in the primary, including FL and MI you can expect the Republicans and the media to spin the corruption issue back to the democrats.

2. Many voters have changed their vote in the booth from Barack back to Hillary. This means that the polls will be even less accurate than before.

3. The Republicans will try to define Obama, but he and Hillary are much better politicians than McCain, not to mention Kerry and Gore. The media does a disservice to Obama by giving him a free pass however. Of more than a dozen primary candidates, he has had the easiest time of it.

4. Finally – Most of the states Obama has won will not be in play in November except for Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. He’ll take Washington out of play but not Virginia. Obama will lose states in play that are likely victories for Clinton, including Arkansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. Stronghold states New Jersey and California will be in play for the first time in years. There is no way Obama flips Georgia, Alabama or the Carolinas.

5. There you have it – Obama nets KS, IA, and MO, loses MI, OH, FL, PA, NM, TN, CO, could lose NJ and, puts CA in play.

[SCharb]

Sure... and Clinton's Democratic support would "evaporate" in the General Election.

[greejambri]

I put Mark Penn's remarks in the same bin as Karl Rove's. They are both cut from the same cloth. Penn is every bit as slimy as Rove, and he is actually dumpier, if that is possible. The mere fact that the Clintons have him as an advisor says everything you need to know about their politics.

[Lalo]

You forget one small thing: they are hired help to get someone elected and so far they have been the best in the business. Your attempts to change them by any kind of "values" or "morals" is as naive and foolish as thinking republicans are just going to swallow the message of change and roll over for Obama in November.