Interesting Inteview with Joe Trippi (Edwards' senior campaign advisor)

[LiveLiberally]

appeared today in New York Magazine. Trippi gives a very nuanced analysis of the race thus far, where it might go, what Clinton & Obama need to do to win, how each would measure up against McCain and what role John might play.

Here's the intro to the interview:

Last night, Democratic strategist Joe Trippi sat down to discuss the Democratic primary with New York's John Heilemann from his home on the eastern shore of Maryland. The architect of Howard Dean's 2000 primary insurgency, most recently a senior adviser to John Edwards's campaign and a leading advocate for the "bottom-up" style of campaigning, which eschews big donors in favor of grassroots organizing and small donations fueled by the Internet, shared his thoughts on the current Clinton-Obama deadlock. Read on to find out why this won't be resolved before the convention, a Clinton-Obama ticket is likely, and the end of the writers' strike was a key moment in the race.



Full article at: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/03/john_heilemann_and_joe_trippi.html

[saltpoint]

1. Compelling piece. There's an audio of it someplace. They played a few

excerpts this morning, but I didn't catch the source. Very good inroad analysis for current-and-future circumstances.

Trippi has his detractors, but he is an often breath-taking interview. I heard him on Diane Rehm some while ago, and the two of them covered a LOT of ground.

Thanks for posting.

[LiveLiberally]

2. Thanks OC, Trippi is a question mark to me....

He seems a very astute strategist, but I didn't think he best presented Edwards' message during the campaign when I saw him on television. Some of the points he makes in this interview struck me as outside the usual conventional wisdom. He argued, for example, that Clinton has no chance of winning the GE unless she picks Obama to be her VP. What do you think? I personally don't agree with that, although I think Trippi's broader point that Clinton will have to find some way to energize on her behalf Obama's key constituencies (young voters & African-Americans in particular) is a good one. Trippi also seemed emphatic that -- at least right now -- the campaign was heading to the Convention. I certainly hope not. I'd be less concerned if the Convention was in July, but September is much too late to resolve the nomination. Just think of the state GD-P would be in by then....:)

[saltpoint]

3. Yes -- he is a constant controversy -- sometimes to the better side

of the outcome, and other times not.

An especially astute person I know who knew Joe is less than fond of him. I thought Edwards was going for the internet presence and any affilited benefits by bringing in Joe Trippi, but personally disagree that both Clinton and Obama belong on our ticket together -- I don't think they like each other that well to start with and even less so nowadays.

I won't dispute his claim about all-the-way-to-Denver, because the outcomes of the remaining primaries don't seem likely to give either of the frontrunners a clear path. Obama's looks more convincing but isn't a sealed deal. Clinton's is also plausible but the last month or so has been really rough for her chances.

The solution, of course, is for Dean to lock them both up in a cellar and forge an Edwards/Bradley or Edwards/Sebelius ticket.

John McCain would blow his brains out.