MARK PENN STARTS SPINNING A CLINTON LOSS IN NEVADA...(desperation)

[ProSense]

MARK PENN STARTS SPINNING A CLINTON LOSS IN NEVADA...

Clinton Campaign strategist Mark Penn has begun spinning Hillary Clinton's potential loss in this weekend's Nevada's caucus, contending that an Obama victory would be essentially illegitimate. In an unusual memo sent to reporters on Friday evening, Penn bemoans Obama's local labor support and emphasizes that two recent polls show Clinton ahead, so the "easy explanation" for an Obama victory would be his union support. This analysis of Obama's (potentially) winning coalition is presented as some sort of indictment, picking up on Bill Clinton's complaints that local party rules allow wide participation in the caucus.



Yet even given Penn's stormy history with labor and the low "standards" of campaign spin, this attack is particularly desperate. Democratic candidates are supposed to win over labor voters. In fact, if Obama -- or any candidate -- wins Nevada on the strength of union voters, it would validate his appeals to the huge labor electorate on Super Tuesday. Meanwhile, Nevada's tiny caucus universe cannot be reliably surveyed, (as I've explained before), so these polls are unlikely to reflect Saturday's turnout. Of course, Mark Penn knows that. "Turnout is uncertain since the last election saw only 9,000 voters come out," he notes in the memo. And that's exactly why he's already spinning a loss, even as he emphasizes that Clinton is "ahead 9 points."

Most political reporters erred by treating the New Hampshire primary as a story about polls, not people. Mark Penn is betting they'll repeat the same mistake when interpreting the Nevada results.

Judge dismisses Nevada caucus challenge

[MadBadger]

1. I think hes just lowering expectations so they can call her the comeback girl again.

[rodeodance]

17. The comback gal---so SWEET

[skipos]

2. I didn't think I could like Hillary any less

and then I found out more about Penn.

[MH1]

5. What you said. nt

[K Gardner]

25. I find I can always like her less. n/t

[Evergreen Emerald]

3. I think there are legitimate concerns about the unions forcing their

workers to support Obama or avoid the caususes. It is a shame that people only care about voter integrity when it benefits their candidate.

[cali]

4. it certainly is and the Clintons and their supporters made it clear

that they have NO use for voter integrity- not to mention that Mark Penn is a vile toad even by campaign manager standards.

[Evergreen Emerald]

6. so cali, are you suggesting that it is ok to pressure people to caucus

for a specific person, rather than make your own choice? Are you one who was for the recount in NH? ARe you suggesting that voter fraud is ok as long as if favors your candidate?

Aren't you the one also, who said that Obama had no surrogates suggesting racism? And yet any supporters of Clinton, no matter how tenuous, means that Clinton is acting?

Are you being a hypocrite?

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. When you provide evidence that any such thing is happening

Then it would be fair to comment on it.

Until that point, well...

[Evergreen Emerald]

11. there was no evidence that anything was happening in NH.

That did not stop all from shouting "stolen election" and demanding a recount.

double standards

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. Not on my part...the stolen election nonsense was just that: nonsense

As is your despicable insinuation without evidence: nonsense.

You're posting nonsense.

[Evergreen Emerald]

22. the evidence is in the complaints of the union members.

The complaints of the union memebers is enough for me to suggest that there should be a way to monitor the process.

[alcibiades_mystery]

26. Feel free to provide your exhaustive study

Until you do, your nonsense is as nonsensical and nasty as the stolen election idiocy.

Cheers!

[Evergreen Emerald]

27. what the hell is wrong with you?

Get over your fucking self.

[alcibiades_mystery]

30. Strong evidence, Evergreen!

Very persuasive stuff!

:rofl:

[cali]

12. No, I wrote an OP about that. If it's going on, it's flat wrong, but there

is no substantive evidence that it is happening. And no, you got it dead wrong yet again, or you are purposefully misrepresenting what I've said. My money is on the latter. I've posted repeatedly that what Jesse Jackson Jr said is offensive and wrong. I posted that I found Obama's minister's words about Bill Clinton repugnant. Nope, I'm not the one being the hypocrite. You however, have staunchly stood up for the bogus bullshit lawsuit that got thrown out and was intended to disenfranchise voters, an effort that everyone knows the Clinton camp was involved with. You however, have never, to my knowledge, criticized the Clinton surrogates for their repugnant comments and tactics.

Pretty clear who has a corner on the hypocrisy market. Check out your nearest mirror for confirmation.

[Evergreen Emerald]

24. what an inflated, inaccurate, flame-bait post.

"that they have NO use for voter integrity- not to mention that Mark Penn is a vile toad even by campaign manager standards."

[cali]

29. what's inaccurate?

Bill made it crystal clear that he supports voter suppression if it benefits Hillary. The judge clearly thought the lawsuit was of NO merit. And Penn has a history that's hardly favorable.

Now, have you ever criticized Hillary at all? No? Didn't think so.

[MonkeyFunk]

31. How about the fact that Penn isn't

her campaign manager?

[ursi]

18. I didn't read Cali's comment that way ...but then I live in Nevada

it's time for everyone else to let our caucus rules drop.

[MH1]

7. Caucuses don't seem very democratic anyway.

I liked the idea until I started thinking about the implications of the public aspect. Now, I would have not problem giving a big FU to my employer if they started pushing on my politics, but I can easily get another job, and I'm no shrinking violet when it comes to my political opinions. But others have various reasons for wanting to keep their politics more private, and I think any caucus will be distorting because of that, and will come down to a power play.

That said, I think Clinton would have zero, none, nada problem with this situation if the big unions had endorsed her. JMHO.

[rodeodance]

yes, when people are in real need of job security-benefits-and the union has

done good work for them--there is a felt need to go along.

and the fear factor of reprisals --real or imagined is there.

[ZinZen]

8. and the lowering expectations game is on!

[Robbins]

9. Remember

Hillary once had an over 20 point lead here.Even If she were to win by 3 points as some polls suggest(although if Obama have no chance wht try to keep the workers In the casinos from being able
to caucus) this shows she has lost support.

[rodeodance]

14. as name recognition sets in (obama and edwards), that is bound to happen.

[itsrobert]

13. Hillary is going to win EASILY

It's not going to be close.

[GalleryGod]

15. That's O.K. That's his job. What DID we do before "Spin Alley" ???

If Frank Mankiewicz could've "spun"...RFK would've crushed HHH and LBJ.

[gregjones]

16. MSNBC and Fox are doing the same

It amazes me when I watch these so called news networks and
watch them do the old 'lower expectation' trick for Hillary.
It's sad and blatant. Last night MSNBC said that if Hillary
wins Nev. she'll become the nominee with her 'upset'....and if
she loses Nev. she'll be just fine ! By the way, since when is
it that a woman married to the president who once was the
inevitable now the poor underdog? Give us a break. MSNBC
should tell their viewers that they are owned by G.E. which
also owns Raytheon, one of the largest defense contractors in
the world and also one of Hillary's biggest contributors. 

[GalleryGod]

19. "Spin" whether it be in a campaign or a college classroom, is part and parcel

of the political discourse in the 21st Century. To wit, Gore beats the crap outta W in Debate #1,and then after Fax-blasts from 360 degrees, "The Gore Sighs" are the message of the day 48 hours later.

[HughMoran]

21. You again?

jiminy crickets!

[sniffa]

23. Clinton storms back from being up 25 points

Major comeback.

[AtomicKitten]

28. A stunning comeback for the Comeback Kid II: Electric bugaloo.