Rick Davis Calls Palin's $150,000 Shopping Spree A "Failure Of Management"

(CNN) -- Rick Davis, the campaign manager for former John McCain's White House bid came to Sarah Palin's defense in an upcoming interview with the National Review, saying the now-infamous $150,000 clothing tab for the Alaska governor was caused by a "failure of management."

In the interview, set for publication next week, Davis notes Palin's appearance at the Republican convention came only days after she was named to the GOP ticket, and the Alaska governor had few clothes on hand that were appropriate for the event.

"We flew her out from Alaska to Arizona to Ohio to introduce her to the world and take control of her life. She didn't think 'dress for the convention', because it might have just been a nice day trip to Arizona if she didn't click with John. Very little prep had been done and if it had, we might have gotten picked off by the press. We were under incredible scrutiny."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Geoffrey Dunn - Huffpost Blogger]

Rick Davis is an inveterate liar. They had months to select a VP candidate. They did not vet Palin and they did not properly prepare her. He blames it all on the pressure and "scrutiny." Davis was not ready for the big time.

Read more about his failed management here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/rick-davis-and-mccains-fa_b_136413.html

[Suzique]

A management failure? Did no one happen to read the rules? Use of campaign donations for personal expenses is ILLEGAL! How did that slip by? It didn't, they just hoped nobody would find out.

[greyseal in tampa]

Guess who's campaign Rick Davis wants to manage in the future?

[rabiddog6708]

The failure part is accurate anyway. The Repubs are learning all about failure. They have 4 long years to bone up on the blunders, gaffes and wrong-headed decisions, such as the $150,000 + shopping spree for Palin. Seems the poor gal needed some new duds and Neiman Marcus was just down the street. $23,000 to the lady who did her makeup, well she was out of base, rouge, lipstick. A former beauty contestant wouldn't know anything about applying her own makeup. Gotta pay someone a load of cash to paint up the pitbull.

[mrskorn]

the fact is, Palin did not shop for or buy the clothes. it was the campaign people. Why they didn't come out earlier and say this is beyond me. I guess it is easier to let the blame fall on Palin than take responsibility for a bad campaign.

I don't think anyone is saying that being a female was not a high priority for McCains campaign. So what. Biden was chosen because he had foreign policy experience. It is always a strategy to help the campaign.

As far as McCain not vetting Palin, they he were aware of her work in Alaska, which by the way had the biggest surplus in the US and its governor had the highest approval rating. While she may not be a great orator, at least she did her job well.

No one seems to have an idea how O will govern because they have little to go by.....yes, he can speak, but now let's see what he can do.

[nomobull]

BS JUSTIFICATION OBAMA WOULD HAVE BEEN BLUDGEONED TO DEATH WITH IF HIS CAMPAIGN HAD DONE SOMETHING SIMILIAR.

[acmes]

Interesting subtext here: John McCain barely knew her. They fly her to AZ, cross their fingers that they "click" and then onto Ohio. Clearly not enough time to fly back to AK to pick up suits that she presumably wears to work? I doubt even the governor of AK wears just fleece to work. And what's wrong with a few Ann Taylor suits--or even just one fab outfit? None of that costs 150K. Failure of management describes the entire McCain campaign--from its near bankruptcy in the summer of 2007 to his last minute choice of Palin to his flaky suspension of his campaign in September to his use of Joe the Plumber as a life-raft. They made so much of Obama's lack of executive experience, but his management of his campaign stood head and shoulders above ANY other candidate!

[gentlernation]

Give a f%%^&ucking 150.000 $ break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NotWaldo]

What we have here is a ... management failure !

[mahdeealoo]

Oh H e l l,

I'm announcing, as a cheerleader mom, that I will run for president in 2012. I'm a solid person with good moral and ethical standards. The difference between Palin and myself is more than lipstick. And I almost made it on the cover of Vogue in 1969. Does that count? I invite all you moms out there to get on the ticket. You bet your booties. We're all for change, and more than just diapers!

[Pacojam]

Davis makes it sound like the wardrobe story was the reason they lost the race. Yeah right.

[Pacojam]

Rick ran a wonderful campain, didn't he?

[SF13]

Depends if you are a Republican or Democrat .. Hey I think he should run ALL future R campaigns :-)

[hereitis]

You betcha! :)

[RobChattaTN]

does anybody CARE about this????
get a life people
we're movin' on

[timberdoodle]

Wow Sara actually got vetted for an entire day in Arizona. That's a lot more vetting than I orignally thought she got from the GOP.

[mk2000]

If she didn't click with John??? The clearest admission so far that McCain did not know her AT ALL. So when you said you had been consulting with her "for years and years" where you lying, John McCain?

[Bulbul]

Spin if you may, and I was born yesterday.....Go away and take Palin and Joe the pummer with ya....