Obama Hires Solis Doyle: A Bad Omen For VP Hillary

The Obama campaign announced today what had long been suspected: Hillary Clinton's former campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle was going to work for the Illinois Democrat. What came as a surprise was Solis Doyle's title, "chief of staff to the vice presidential candidate."

The move was seen as shrewd but potentially controversial. Solis Doyle was let go by Clinton because of what was widely regarded as poor campaign and financial management. But she still is a prominent Hispanic figure with ties to the former first lady -- attributes that could endear Obama to a sought-after political constituency.

One thing the move does suggest, insiders believe, is that Hillary Clinton's chances of being tapped for the vice presidency are now slim to nil.

"This alone means that Hillary won't be the V.P. choice," wrote one.

According to two close Clinton confidantes, the Senator and Solis Doyle have not spoken since her firing months ago. And there is a sense that bad blood lingers between the two. Some officials in Clinton's orbit were disappointed, if not angered, by the fact that Solis Doyle had been in touch with the Obama campaign about possibly coming on board. Solis Doyle, meanwhile, is rumored to have felt particularly scapegoated by her firing.

Said one individual with knowledge of the Clinton campaign's political leanings: "It would be pretty awkward if Hillary Clinton were picked as vice president and Patti was there to be her chief of staff."

Indeed, while on the surface it may seem that hiring Solis Doyle would provide a soft landing for Clinton to be brought in as V.P., others see her hiring as simply a logical political move.

"Patti knows that world certainly and knows the kinds of things the vice president would do because she saw it so much in the White House," said a source. "She is from Chicago and she knows all those folks. I knew she had visited with them and she wants to get on with her life too."

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But time does heal wounds and in politics a shared objective like, say, the White House, could compel Obama to reunite Clinton and her former campaign manager.

Update: Jason Horowitz over at the New York Observer reports the following: "A former bundler to Hillary Clinton just called in to tell me that Barack Obama's selection of Patti Solis Doyle as chief of staff to the campaign's eventual vice presidential nominee is the "biggest fuck you I have ever seen in politics."

[snip]

"Either one of two things happen," said the bundler. "Hillary is selected as vice president and they fire Patti, or Hillary is not going to be the vice president."

Later Update: A source with knowledge (though not direct) of Sollis Doyle and Clinton's relationship writes in to dispute the idea that they haven't spoken since her firing. Though, he adds, the move by Obama seems likely to shut the door on the idea of Clinton as VP.

Comments

[Cactusflower]

I have never been a HRC supporter, but the timing of this announcement bothers me a bit. As of now, the VP search is still going on. Some HRC supporters may have hopes that she would be the VP. Eventually she may or may not get that position, but to bring in such a controversial figure does not sound politically wise. Obama will need Clinton supporters in the general election, and I wish the campaign had handled this more skillfully.

[mindlessmissy]

Only Obama Knows what he is doing and If his Campaign was any Sign ... I will Trust His judgment on this latest showing ... that guy does things against the grain and they always come out quite well...

President Obama '09

[DRPike]

Exactly

[MWJacobs]

Agreed!

[inspectormerlot]

Yes I'm with you. I think it was a gross blunder.
A VP has the right to choose his/her own Chief of Staff.
There's something ugly about them announcing this now. (And I'm an Obama supporter, not a Hillary fanatic.)

[abby4ever]

Wait a little and see what develops, we may have only half the story---which would be typical for Huffington, I must admit.

[abby4ever]

We don't know the whole story as yet, it may be that he has an excellent reason for doing this.

[nomobull]

it was noy happening and this gives them time abd he should be free to choose as other candidates have.

[PTCruiser]

I am not a fan of Sr. Hillary and I have no desire to see her on the ticket with Obama. That said, I would not interpret the Obama campaign's hiring of Patty Solis Doyle as a sign that Sr. Hillary will not be on ticket. I would be more inclined to interpret the decision as indicating that Maggie Williams will not be on the Obama payroll if Clinton is selected.

[dykalg]

Chief of staff to the vice presidential nominee...this title means that the VP nominee has been chosen and has ok'd Solis Doyle. But who? The logic is pointing to Richardson.

[abby4ever]

I think that's plausible---on the the other hand, that might seem like overkill when it comes to Latinos, what do you think?

[schicklett3]

Good Grief! Get over Hillary already!!!
Focus on winning against John McCain!

[whizkid]

soulsa
Why do you hate the victors of my party?
Gore, Brazile, and Coward Dean represent defeat.

[soulsangels]

Awwe the sweet aroma of the ULTIMATE UP YOURS HILLARY.
This one is for all the debates where you made Barack "denounce", and "reject" etc!

NOW WHO'S REJECTED!

[StephenDedalus82]

I'd hope you would have faith that Obama would care more about winning the election than playing petty sore-winner games.

[debrab]

Patti Solis Doyle needs a job and has experience. It is a compliment to Hillary that Obama offered her work. Better than him blacklisting her because she was once tied to Hillary. She is passionate about her work and she is a democrat. Hillary probably encouraged him to hire as many of her former staff as he could. Hillary probably feels bad that she let her go in the first place.

Hillary may have let go of the VP job already. We don't know what she told Obama when they had their private meeting.

There are so many other things she could do... and will do.

[OhReallySheSaid]

She already has a job. She's David Axelrod's gf.

[Bettysdad]

Being Axelrod's girlfriend is a job?

That would make her a prostitute.

[DRPike]

Sanity, thank you.

[Myshkin57]

It also may be that Doyle and Clinton remain friends. There's every chance they haven't spoken solely because of the awkwardness of the situation. It seemed clear to me that Clinton only fired her because she needed to appear to be doing something to improve her situation. I really don't see how hiring Doyle signals anything at all, other than that the VP will have her as his chief of staff.

[rbloom]

Well, at least it wasn't Bob Shrum. Thank God.

[Rita1]

I figure HRC was dragging her feet with turning her donors over to Obama. Obama isn't going to "hang by the phone" so he lets her have it, by hiring Solis Doyle. Checkmate.

[LA2000]

Puhleeeze. You don't hire someone to a major position in your campaign simply to "send a message" to Hillary. This isn't junior high school, people. And if Hillary WERE to be the VP, doesn't this save her a rather awkward phone call to Doyle inviting her to return? Mark Penn was clearly an idiot.

But I do imagine, if you were a failed candidate (or candidate's supporter) who believed the whole world revolved around you, then you might see this as a slight.

If the Obama people didn't start hiring Clinton people, there would be complaining. And now that he is, what do you know....complaining!

[rooks]

Your last sentence said it all.

[Roses]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for some whiff of maturity here.

Obama/? '08

[Countdown09]

From what I understand Ms. Doyle is very good at what she does, Obama has to expand his campaign staff for the national election so why shouldn't he take her on. Ms. Doyle I suspect was a victim to "some one has to take the blame"situation. I don't think there was any "message" being sent, I suspect Hillary and Obama already know rather Hillary is going to VP. And if I had to guess I suspect she will not be his VP. Bill Clinton is tied to Hillary at the hip his baggage is her baggage. Bill's business dealings since leaving the white house will never pass the sniff test.

[suzyhein]

HRC didn't complain. angry idiots did. She hasn't said anything. I'm completely in the tank for Obama but HRC has shown class at the end. It's the pundits who are in junior high.

[BluMoonRising]

Maybe he is hiring a tattletale first......?????

[whizkid]

Doyle was among the worthless staff members she cast off.
Funnny how Hillary knows the losers and Obama hires them.
Or gets them to endorse him.

[JohnTalbutt]

Man, you Obama haters are hard up to find things to criticize. Of all the people associated with Hillary, she is probably of the most political value. Of course, if he wanted to handicap himself he could hire Mark Penn or put a bid in for Charlie Black. Now there are a pair of winners for you.

[Probus]

The only loser here is Clinton herself. No one hurt her campaign more than what she herself said - Bosnia sniper fire and her infamous RFK assassination comments.

[Roses]

HMMMMMM.....That means that if "Obama hires them " and then hires Hillary to be VP.........HMMMMMM.......does that mean that you are calling Hillary a loser?.....no.....I didn't think so, silly me. Just a little mixed up.

Obama/? '08

[DRPike]

Hillary fired her near the end at the behest of the men on her staff that ruined her campaign...great judgment that.

[oscartucker]

The most worthless staff member was Penn! He didn't even know the "rules" of the Democratic Primary. Solis Doyle must have some "skills"; Clinton hired her. The woman is capable, probably needs a job (has everyone been paid over there?), and has connections. (Why was she fired? Was it because of Penn? If she didn't handle finances and the campaign well, was it because of Penn? Was he spending money when he shouldn't have been? Was he doing things without consulting Solis Doyle or for that matter Clinton? I hope the truth comes out one day.)

[Xenopus]

Good Grief, can we please get past Hillary Clinton. I don't hate Hillary like many, but I have to say I am so tired of the "Hillary this......and.......Hillary that". Let's give the Clinton's a rest please. Hillary will be important in the Senate at the very least. One would think she had been banished from the US terra firma by the selection of Obama. It's time to focus on the task at hand.

[StevoSeattle]

Hear! Hear!

Hillary will be a fine Senator. Last time she worked in the White House she was a terrible liability. She made an absolute disaster out of the opportunity to reform health care policy, and the Republicans mocked her failure all the way to their victory in 1994 when they won both houses of Congress. Hillary proved herself a tough campaigner in 2008, but long ago she showed her deeply flawed abilities as a politician.

Obama needs every talented and well-connected Democrat on his team, including Solis-Doyle and others. Others who worked in HRC's campaign should be thrilled to now go to work for BHO's campaign. Hillary needs to go focus on her job as Senator of New York. Enough about her.

[scouserinlondon]

How long will she have that job for?

[rooks]

Clinton fired her. Once fired you are able to seek additional employment in the USA. If I am wrong please say so. What is the big deal here?

[pacats]

Not a big deal. Folks may just need to vent.

[useyourbrain]

Doyle brings in the Hispanic votes. Yes, out here in California the name Doyle is synonymous with Hispanic. Check the phone book -- hundreds of pages:

Jesus Doyle
Cesar Doyle
Juan Doyle
Asuncion Doyle
Benita Doyle
Alejandro Doyle
Dulce Doyle
Auturo Doyle
Chiquita Doyle
Chucho Doyle
Chita Doyle
Consuela Doyle
Desiderio Doyle
Evita Doyle
Ernesto Doyle
Manuela Doyle
Felipe Doyle
Milagros Doyle
Ignacio Doyle
Joaquin Doyle
Rosita Doyle
+
The list goes on and on

[SanityClaus]

Solis.

You pinhead.

[pacats]

We were not going to say anything. It is late and most are tired.

[pottery]

Aaha LOL! :D

[mounthood]

You left out Arthur Conan Doyle.

[mheister]

Really? Choosing Ms. Solis Doyle is the biggest frakk-you ever? It wasn't HRC's complete inability to acknowledge, let alone congratulate, Obama on any of his primary or caucus victories, or winning the nomination, until AFTER her strongest supporters had to strong-arm her after the last primaries?

[OhReallySheSaid]

How about BHO congratulating HRC for being the one candidate in primary history who received the most votes ever? Didn't hear a thank you for that........

[ShirleyBowers]

The Obama camp is not math-challenged like you. They know better.

[ShirleyBowers]

" . . . Over half the dems in the primary voted for BHO. . ."


" . . . How about BHO congratulating HRC for being the one candidate in primary history who received the most votes ever? . . . "

Which is it?

[Bettysdad]

That would have made Obama into either an idiot or a liar.

He's neither.

And he got the most votes, unless you use Bosnian math.

[CTtransplant]

Guess you don't read much, OhReallySheSaid...Obama won the popular vote - not Cl inton.

[OhReallySheSaid]

And oh, here's the sentence she forgot to say in her speech: "And I want to congratulate you, Barry, for the two largest states you won in the primaries: Illinois and Wisconsin. Now that's is certainly progress don't you think? Oh really...........

[JohnTalbutt]

Most of us just disregard posts that refer to Obama as "Barry". If you want intelligent people to pay attention to you try to focus on mature content.

[Roses]

What's with the "Barry" as insult? I don't get it. Has anyone here ever grown up with a name that is unusual or hard to pronounce? When you are a kid you want to fit in. My given name is long and unsual and I have a shorter nickname.

Obama/? 08

[DRPike]

You forgot Texas