It has been announced that the Barack Obama campaign is bringing a high profile former Hillary Clinton staffer into his campaign. This has caused speculation about Clinton as Obama's VP choice and the news is reported to not being well received by those close to Clinton.
This has led to speculation about Hillary Clinton being chosen to run as Obama's VP choice, although an Obama campaign aide has told Salon that the Doyle hiring is not meant to sent any message one way or the other about a joint ticket.
Clinton backers doubt that because it was reported by the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, earlier this month, that Clinton and Doyle have not spoken since Clinton fired her in mid-February.
Mrs. Clinton dumped her campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, who had been with her since 1992, and the two have not spoken since. Maggie Williams, the first lady’s chief of staff in the 1990s, was brought in to take over. Mrs. Clinton finally agreed to attack Mr. Obama in a more sustained way and scratched out victories in the Ohio and Texas primaries on March 4 to keep her bid alive.
Many Clinton backers have thought of Doyle as a "bit of a traitor" for signaling that she would back Obama before the primaries were over.
CNN is reporting, as an update that many Clinton aides, including a longtime adviser and a top campaign staffer have told them that the hiring of Solis Doyle by Obama is not being received well from people close to Clinton or former members of her campaign team.
Many in that group became "angry and furious with her" over the campaign’s performance early in the primary season, and share a widespread belief she "grossly mismanaged our campaign."Quick Update: I guess I understated the level of animosity being shown from Clinton backers of this choice of Solis Doyle for the Obama campaign.
The New York Observer:
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."
They describe the reaction over this news saying that Clinton loyalists were "livid" over the pick.
Reactions are coming out.
At least that's how Clinton loyalists see it. "It's a slap in the face," Susie Tompkins Buell, a prominent Clinton backer, said in an interview. "Why would they put somebody that was so clearly ineffective in such a position? It's a message. We get it." She said it was a "calculated decision" by the Obama team to "send a message that she [Clinton] is not being considered for the ticket."[Update] Reactions are coming out.
Other Clinton insiders also seethed. "Who can blame Obama for rewarding Patti? He would never be the nominee without her," one person who has worked for both Clintons and remains close to them said. The sentiment reflected what another person in the immediate Clinton orbit described as "shock" that Obama would send such a strong signal that he is not considering Clinton as his runningmate so soon.
At least that's how Clinton loyalists see it. "It's a slap in the face," Susie Tompkins Buell, a prominent Clinton backer, said in an interview. "Why would they put somebody that was so clearly ineffective in such a position? It's a message. We get it." She said it was a "calculated decision" by the Obama team to "send a message that she [Clinton] is not being considered for the ticket."[Update]
Other Clinton insiders also seethed. "Who can blame Obama for rewarding Patti? He would never be the nominee without her," one person who has worked for both Clintons and remains close to them said. The sentiment reflected what another person in the immediate Clinton orbit described as "shock" that Obama would send such a strong signal that he is not considering Clinton as his runningmate so soon.
Hillary Clinton's spokeswoman, Mo Elleithee, issued a short statement:
“Patti will be an asset and good addition to the Obama campaign. After nearly two decades in political life, she brings with her the ability to tap an extensive network that will be a huge asset to Senator Obama. As Senator Clinton has said, we’re all going to do our part to help elect Senator Obama as the next President of the United States
The Obama campaign has announced other new hires today in the shaping of his general election campaign staff, which include;
Constituency Director: Brian Bond – formerly LGBT Outreach Director at the DNC
National Field Director: Jon Carson – formerly Obama for America Voter Contact Director
Senior Advisor to the Campaign and Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama: Stephanie Cutter
Industrial States Regional Director: Paul Diogardi – formerly Political Director for the Democratic Governor’s Association.
Battleground States Director: Jen O’Malley Dillon – formerly Iowa State Director for John Edwards for President
Chief of Staff to the Vice Presidential Nominee: Patti Solis Doyle
Latino Vote Director: Temo Figueroa – formerly Obama for America National Field Director
First Americans Vote Director: Wizipan Garriott
Northeast Regtional Director: Eureka Gilkey – formerly Obama for America Deputy Political Director
50-State Voter Registration Director: Jason Green – formerly Obama for America political and field staff
Campaign Chief of Staff: Jim Messina – formerly Chief of Staff to Senator Max Baucus
LGBT Vote Director: Dave Noble – formerly of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
West Regional Director: Matt Rodriguez – formerly Obama for America New Hampshire State Director
Senior Advisor: Michael Strautmanis
African American Vote Director: Rick Wade
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