March 27, 2008
Sources: HRC Nixed Williams' Staff Shake-Up Plan
Maggie Williams, who replaced Patti Solis Doyle as Hillary Clinton's campaign manager in 2/08, considered asking the entire campaign staff to tender their resignations after the OH and TX primaries on 3/4, according to several sources close to the campaign.
“She essentially wanted the whole staff to reapply for their jobs,” said one source.
According to another Clinton insider, the plan was in the works despite their 3/4 victories. But before Williams could make it happen, Clinton herself nixed the idea as unnecessary.
For Williams, such a move reflects a need to assert control over an increasingly fractured staff. Reports of turmoil within the campaign -- like the now infamous Penn-Grunwald shouting match -- began leaking to the press under her tenure. And a campaign insider confirmed that Williams questioned the loyalty of her staff as a result.
Some speculate that the litmus test of asking her staff to reapply for their jobs was conceived with an eye towards weeding out of the more entrenched staffers, particularly those who had closely aligned themselves with Solis Doyle. “I think they realized that getting rid of Patti wasn’t a big enough fix,” said another source, on William’s motivations.
In the last few weeks, a slew of staffers close to Doyle, including Jessica O'Connell, the national director of operations, and longtime campaign staffer Adam Parkhomenko left. Deputy campaign manager Mike Henry and online staffers Kevin Thurman and Crystal Patterson also offered their resignations last month in the wake of Doyle’s departure.
Clinton campaign staff contacted said if any sort of plan was in place they never got wind of it. Responding to inquirers, Clinton spokesperson Phil Singer denied that such a plan was ever in the works [NORA MCALVANAH].
Posted at 07:15 PM
Comments
Nice post. Very interesting
Patricia | 03.28.08 12:03 PM
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Perhaps instead of Clinton herself, a white male with foreign policy cred who is a well known Clintonista would suffice? Which is long hand for Wes Clark.
comstock load | 03.28.08 01:12 PM
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Wow, great post! I find the inner workings of the Clinton campaign to be fascinating. I wish On Call would do reporting like this more often. Way to go, Nora.
Kathy | 03.28.08 01:45 PM
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Wowzer, how adorably fascinating...oh, oh, oh! (puke)
Barb | 03.30.08 05:39 AM
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