Penn: Fight On!
Even if reports that Hillary Clinton will acknowledge Barack Obama has enough votes to win, one man is urging her to stay in it.
Former top strategist Mark Penn, reviled by many on Hillary's staff but still an important voice in the candidate's ear, has emerged (to no one's surprise) as the strongest advocate of her remaining in the race regardless of what happens in the next 24 hours, according to sources inside the campaign.
In contrast to the "realist faction" (which reportedly includes Penn's replacement Geoff Garin, communications chief Howard Wolfson and others), Penn is advising the Clintons to remain in the race through the convention -- just in case another Rev. Wright-type scuffle breaks out.
His argument: Suspend the campaign if you must, but don't end it, because all those Obama supers will flock to Hillary if more dirt on O emerges before the convention.
Until recently, Bill and Chelsea were said to be in the Penn camp, but that may have changed in recent days. And Hillary has kept her own counsel, people close to her say.
Clinton's delegate wrangler Harold Ickes, who helped lead Teddy Kennedy's charge against Jimmy Carter at the 1980 convention, is said to be conflicted, campaign sources say. On one hand, he's eager to reverse what he believes to be a shameful DNC ruling last weekend that delivered four Clinton delegates to Obama -- but keenly aware of the damage a protracted campaign will do to the party.
Yesterday, on a conference call with several dozen pro-Clinton House members, Rep Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) gently prodded Ickes to make a decision on Clinton's future by the end of the month. The mercurial Ickes responded, "We've got to do this by the end of this week!" according to member of congress who was listening in
--Glenn Thrush
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Comments (30)
Can somone give me one good reason anyone should take this incompetent fool seriously? He only devised a strategy that brought down an overwhelming favorite. Why not listen to him some more?
Mark Penn is a disgusting pig. Just perfect for Hillary.
Of course Penn wants her to stay in! The reason? 2 words.
BILLLING HOURS
How does this know nothing douche of a man bank what he banks but yet still never cease to amaze me with his complete lack of intelligence?
It's gotta be the comb-over.
he wants to milk the cow that is no longer producing. What a turdblossom.
Take a shower already. You make me feel dirty just looking at you!
He is the main reason she has lost, so why would she listen to him?
What is the point of fighting on? Do you want her to have no friends at all after this.
This is why everyone hates you Penn.
Jeffputterman - You just insulted disgusting pigs everywhere...
This corpulent doofus is guilty of campaign malpractice. Hillary should sue him for at least 20 million- a good solution for her residual campaign debt. Hillary was not well served by some of the men around her, especially Pig Penn and Bill.
He wants to keep billing. he is a scumbag
This is the same person who works for the same company that McCain's campaign manager works for. He's no better than a republicanderthal.
6-3-08 - Added DNC Maria Chappelle-Nadal (MO) for Obama
- Added DNC Joyce Lalonde (MI)* for Obama
- Added Rep. John Olver (MA) for Obama
- Added Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (MI)* for Obama
- Added DNC Debbie Dingell (MI)* for Obama
- Added DNC Richard Wiener (MI)* for Obama
- Added DNC Jennifer DeChant (ME) for Obama
- Added DNC Joyce Beatty (OH) for Obama
- Added DNC Kwame Kilpatrick (MI)* for Obama
- Added Rep. John Spratt (SC) for Obama
- Added DNC Debra Kozikowski (MA) for Obama
- Added DNC Jon Ausman (FL)* for Clinton
- Added DNC John Perez (CA) for Obama
- Added Jimmy Carter (GA) for Obama
- Added DNC Tina Abbott (MI)* for Obama
6-2-08 - Added DNC Jerome Wiley Segovia (VA) for Obama
- Added DNC Nancy DiNardo (CT) for Obama
- Added DNC Chris Whittington (LA) for Clinton
- Added DNC Brenda Lawrence (MI)* for Obama
- Added DNC Lu Battaglieri (MI)* for Obama
- Added DNC Irene Stein (NY) for Clinton
- Added DNC Janee Murphy (FL)* for Obama
- Added DNC David McDonald (WA) for Obama
- Added Rep. James Clyburn (SC) for Obama
6-1-08 - Added DNC Yvonne Gates (NV) for Obama
- Added Maine add-on Gwethalyn Phillips (ME)# for Obama
Good Ol Mark "sweats while he eats" Penn. What other wacky ideas can he indulge us with? I guess Hillary still owes him money so he doesn't want her to concede and therefore stop bringing in donations...makes sense to me!!
Mark Penn is the reason that Hillary is having to fold his campaign. He is totally unable to get the job done. He's her Karl Rove telling her to fly over Katrina.
HE SHOULD ENSURE SHE GETS A VP TO GO TO BOSNIA AND BILL A PLACE IN IRAQ TO HELP WITH THE SURGE
NorthsideSwede,
I profusely apologize to pigs.
I am so happy to finally see this day I got a little carried away.
He and the rest of the sludge she surrounded herself with is the reason she lost. She should have been a bit more careful on who she picked to help her get elected. Thank God this journey is ending. I hope we can unite as one party. I kind of feel bad for Hillary that all the men in her life lost it for her. She's got to be relieved in some ways though. Peace.
borrowing from someone else what this tape might contain:
people with IQ's 100 will hear:
"Why-didn't he do this and Why-didn't he do that ..."
frakn unbelievable and for all you HRC serfs, please blame the likes of Mark Penn for your candidates failings ...one of many.
This man is the face of failure. And none of them realizes how they failed and worse yet, that they have failed. These are the people her supporters need to hold accountable, not Obama, his supporters or the media. This guy has taken Hillary for a lot of money...millions to be exact. He should feel guilty about taking another nickle from her.
Clinton supporters, write to these people and let them know your dissatifcation with their performance.
Is it not ths same Mark Penn, the architect of Hillary's woes?
Mark Penn did not understood the proportional delegate allocation of the democrats and part of his plans was to wrp up the nomination after winning all the delegates in CA.
His strategy for not planning beyond super tuesday cost Hillary this nomination and he want to advice her to fight on now?
All presidential candidates do not end their campaign, they suspend them. There is a reason why they do it. edward, Biden, etc did not end their nomination fight, they simply suspended it. So why did Mark Penn thinks that her advice to Hillary to suspend her nomination is such a big deal!
Mark Penn is an AIPAC mole who wants to make a sure a rabid pro-Israeli gets elected.
Whether it is Hillary or McCain, he does not really care.
Sheesh, who the freak cares what Piggy Penn thinks? He should just slink back into the corporate slime from which he emerged and quietly devour his latest undeserved millions.
Will someone tell Mark Penn to Fut The Shuck up?
Please?
Well let me just say as a Clinton supporter if she would have ignored this guy from the begining she might have had a better chance. Mark Penn was wrong about all of the advise he has given so far this is no different
Don't you get it guys? She wants to suspend her campaing so she can step in if he gets assassinated. Man I'm scard of her and her associates.
I just would like to Hillary: Please don't be his VP, you are too good to be second to this idiot Obama"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!He is just Anti-American and a lier!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe if we all Hillary's supporters, write Hillary on our ballots in Novemeber we can stop this yerk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because of us , she should fight on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maca,
have you EVER even read your candidates voting record, SHE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US, as in U.S., only being a candidate. Iraq is Hillary's war, and that is why she cannot be the Democratic candidate, ever.
She didn't care about the troops when she authorized Bush to go into a preemptive war in Iraq, she's voted for cluster bombs, bankruptcy bill and the worst Kyle-Lieberman, she is a Republican through and through.
You have been duped.
Signed, a 54 year old white woman
Also, Penns partner at his Lobbying company is McCain Cheif Stratigist!
Hillary staying in helps the Lobbyists other favorite, McCain!
Someone needs to report these ties with vigor...
Doesn't Clinton still owe him $5 million? Maybe he wants her to stay in to raise enough donations so that he can get paid!
This bad advice is why Mark Penn probably should chose another line of work. First if Hillary leaves the race with class and puts the party above person then if anything happens between now and the Democratic National Convention Aug 25 -28 the party WILL come running to Hillary. Mark, know the rules before giving advice. Why anyone hires you is beyond me. If I were Hillary I would pay the 5 M I owe you last. Pay the venders and other small business you used first, they delivered!