If true, it appears the McCain campaign has been using astroturfing techniques to incite Hillary supporters and attempt to convince disenchanted constituents of Clinton to consider McCain as an alternative. Read for yourself...

MEMORANDUM

To: (redacted)

From: S. Schmidt

Date: May 15, 2008

Subject: Clinton Strategy According to both internal polling and exit polls by independent news

organizations, the Democratic Party is becoming increasingly polarized along certain segments of its base. The recent result in West Virginia, while generally unsurprising and definitely unlikely to cause any real shift in the race, highlights the growing bitterness between certain supporters of Clinton and the Obama camp in general. This unique situation has created an opening that could help depress the turnout of key Democratic demographics in November. The specific group we are targeting is a cross-section of white, female voters over the age of 40. Internal polling reveals that this group is the most likely to support John McCain after Obama wins the nomination. However, we expect Obama's numbers to improve following Clinton's drop. Our job is to make sure that number stays as low as possible. Our limited financial resources and the media's attention on the Democratic race, however, prevent us from reaching this group. Our aim is to point out specific issues that we believe resonate well: 1. Sen. Obama's connection to Rev. Wright

2. His inexperience

3. His links to the corrupt Chicago political machine However, we cannot fully achieve this goal without a greater commitment on

the part of McCain's fundraisers and our various media partners. In lieu of that, we have developed a number of inexpensive ways to reach this audience. We have already worked to reinforce the Clinton campaign's narrative about the unfair treatment that some networks, specifically MSNBC, have given her camp. We are also planning to unroll a new campaign to highlight Obama's experience deficit. Simultaneously, our team has been testing new lines of attack through independent pro-Clinton communities on the Internet. Our hope is that our message here will spread by word-of-mouth. Our local community organizing has also been successful. We have organized dozens of "meet-ups" across the country for Clinton supporters, and we have used that time to stress the importance of punishing the DNC for choosing the undemocratically selected far-left Obama. At the moment, this is nothing more than a headache for the Obama campaign. With a greater commitment on your part, I hope to see it metastasize into something much more. Let me know if you need more detail.

-S



Note: I am assuming this is fair-use as this would be a public document. I am willing to shorten if necessary, but I would prefer that everyone reading this diary sees this in its entirety.

Wikileaks provides an area for commenters to help determine if the document is fabricated or not. Please click the link and make your own determination.

I am inclined to trust the leak, beyond the rationales on the site. I can even make an educated guess regarding the leaker. HINT: There was major departure from the campaign a week earlier, but that is nothing but conjecture. My reasons for believing this is an actual leak beyond those on the site include:

It seems like a reasonable and legitimate course of action for the McCain camp.

Many of the Hillary support sites, according to reports, have been overrun with seemingly high McCain support.

There were recent reports of the McCain internet team searching for "trolls".

McCain has focused on Obama's experience over the past two weeks, and this meme has been reported by campaign reporters.

Mark Penn could easily be coordinating with the McCain camp since his departure.

That being said, Bill Clinton's outburst today demonstrates that there is genuine dislike, if not hatred, of Barack Obama in the Clinton camp that may very well translate to her supporters. Bill Clinton's statements captured by Mayhill Fowler were a prime example of the thought process of many Clinton supporters at this time. His comments were genuinely off the cuff, thinking he was talking to someone a supporter on the rope line. This allowed him to open up completely. Much of the animosity is likely real coming from Clinton support sites.



As an aside, Fowler neglected to report that her question was "What did you think of that hatchet job on you". That doesn't seem like a question from someone who adheres to an journalistic standards.

However, true animosity and an effort to capitalize on it by an opposing campaign are not mutually exclusive. It may even be politically savvy.

The question now is are Clinton supporters angry enough to vote against the principles and issues that their candidates entire campaign was built on, regardless of potential proof that they are being egged on by McCain who realizes this may be his only path to the Presidency?

We will all find out within the upcoming months.