Presidential candidates' reps in secret talks with DNC to limit candidate forums

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: Presidential Hopefuls Eye Forums Limit
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 1, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Campaign aides for the leading Democratic presidential candidates have been working together on how to keep their bosses apart, at least for a while.

Representatives for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama and 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards contacted Democratic National Committee executive direction Tom McMahon to request a meeting. The top advisers to Clinton and Obama then secretly came to McMahon's office together Wednesday and asked him to bring some order to the schedule of joint appearances.

In the next three months, there are two candidate forums scheduled in Nevada, a debate in New Hampshire and a debate in South Carolina. More gatherings are in the works for the year.

The candidates are concerned about fitting all the joint appearances into their schedules, but are afraid to turn down invitations and upset the influential hosts who sponsor the gatherings. They want the party to set the limits so they don't have to, something that DNC officials said they are exploring with the nine candidates....

David Bonior, campaign manager for 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards, said Thursday there should be debates but argued for some order to the schedule that is fair to everyone.

''There are a lot of them,'' Bonior said. ''You could spend your whole candidacy doing that and there are a lot of things campaigns need to do, like raising money and meeting with ministers and other people.''...Edwards' Jonathan Prince, who lives in New York City, was on the phone call to set up the meeting but did not attend.

***

It may be difficult to find agreement among the growing list of campaigns. Some who are trailing in the polls see the forums as a chance to trumpet their candidacy, often before a national television audience that might otherwise be focused on the front-runners....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Democrats-2008.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. Did John Edwards get a job or something?

If he could go to Iowa 17 times when he wasn't running, seems like this would be a breeze and give him the advantage. Why is he complaining? :shrug:

[illinoisprogressive]

2. good one, frenchie

[Gotitdone]

3. Didn't you see pictures of his new house?

He has a busy summer of yard work ahead of him.
He must of clear cut a hundred acres of trees!

[countmyvote4real]

4. Did HRC/BO suddenly remember that they have jobs with constituents?

I don't think so. Be fair. They all have a lot of begging/fund-raising to do. HRC has been on her POTUS fund-raising knees ever since she was elected NY Senator.

I'm a NY voter that is not impressed by her record when it comes to representing constituents like me.

[Gotitdone]

5. I agree

She should not have run for reelection when she knew
that she would be spending so much time with the presidential
election.

[countmyvote4real]

6. whatever

I have taken the liberty to edit your remarks about HRC and apply them to JE:

"He should not have run for election when he knew
that he would be spending so much time with his enormous house."

Come on. Is that really a fault? It's not like he purchased the square footage from lucky lottery winnings like I would want to. In fairness, you may have been sarcastic in your Edward's House response, but it's hard to tell.

Anyway, I appreciate that you share some revulsion to the media's mis-anointed HRC.

[Gotitdone]

11. Thats true

But the maids and butlers needed something to clean.

As far as a senator running, it just seems a little selfish to me.
I know it is fairly common, however given the amount of time it takes
to run a modern campaign it is a disservice to the their constituents.
Clinton in particular considering her lack of roots in New York.
Whats going to happen if a bill comes up that may be good for a
traditional battleground state such as Florida or Ohio, but is not
in the best interest of New York?

[countmyvote4real]

12. Alas, Senators are supposed to see the nation as well as their constituents.

How did she miss it?

[JNelson6563]

7. These snarky posts from you are revealing

Sadly they mostly reveal ignorance of how the political world works. Campaigns cannot be won by posting lots of articles and quotes on an obscure forum on the internets, FYI.

But hey, what's the exposure of a little ignorance if it means getting a pot-shot in on someone competing with your idol, eh?

Oy.

Julie

[wyldwolf]

8. coming from the Queen of "I'm sooo much more experienced than you" snarkiness

[Adelante]

9. LOL!!

Oh, my.

[Tellurian]

10. yeeeehaaa!

who will raise their sites above the fray?
the most insecure or the most confident?

money? People want the battle to be about issues.
scrambling for donors is sooooo.. elementary.