Report: Clinton strategist explodes at advertising team Michael Roston

Published: Thursday February 14, 2008



|

Print This Email This After losing eight primary contests in a row to Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton's staff has made some major leadership changes, with campaign chair Patti Solis Doyle and her top lieutenant Mike Henry stepping down. But the changes may not have alleviated all the tensions with Clinton's campaign. A report in Thursday's Wall Street Journal describes a major blow-out occurring between top advisers to Clinton last week. "Clinton campaign operatives say it happened as top Clinton advisers gathered in Arlington, Va., campaign headquarters to preview a TV commercial," write Monica Langley and Amy Chozick. "'Your ad doesn't work,' strategist Mark Penn yelled at ad-maker Mandy Grunwald." Grunwald responded angrily, "'Oh, it's always the ad, never the message," and they add, "The clash got so heated that political director Guy Cecil left the room, saying, 'I'm out of here.'" But the campaign counters that its new head, Maggie Williams, is revitalizing Clinton's presidential effort. "Campaign aides say Ms. Williams and newcomers she brought from the old Clinton White House, such as Doug Sosnick and Steve Richetti, bring a needed jolt of energy," Landley and Chozick say. "Still, it's possible the tumult, including the staff shakeup, could be just what the limping Clinton campaign needs. John McCain dumped his campaign managers last summer when his candidacy seemed to be tanking. Now he is the strong Republican front-runner." Solis Doyle resigned as Clinton's campaign manager last weekend. According to the report, she found her family had "grown accustomed" to her absence after her two months on the road. "When her 6-year-old son cried out one night recently, he rebuffed his mom, saying, 'I want Daddy,' the Journal claims. "Ms. Solis Doyle flew out of the room in tears and told her husband: 'Joey doesn't want me. S[crew] this campaign, I'm quitting.' The full Wall Street Journal article can be read at this link.



