Hillary Pollster Mark Penn: Obama More Likely To Suffer Fate Of John Kerry Or Al Gore

[jefferson_dem]

Hillary Pollster Mark Penn: Obama More Likely To Suffer Fate Of John Kerry Or Al Gore
By Greg Sargent - February 11, 2008, 2:52PM

On a conference call with reporters just now, Hillary pollster Mark Penn sought to make the case for her electability by dredging up bad memories of the GOP and right-wing media's successful efforts to redefine Al Gore and John Kerry, arguing that Hillary wouldn't succumb to such tactics.

The "GOP attack machine," Penn suggested, "skewed the perceptions of such distinguished public servants as Al Gore and John Kerry" in a way that left perceptions of them "out of touch with reality."

Penn said that Hillary has "withstood" this process, while Obama would find that his independent support "would evaporate relatively quickly once he faced the Republicans." Penn added that the GOP "is already playing the national security card against Obama."

In addition to a straightforward electability argument, it's worth noting that Penn's appeal is an emotional one, too -- the obvious tactic being that he's raising fears of Kerry and Gore redux. Penn's implicit goal here seems to be to make Democrats worry -- without saying so outright -- that Obama will prove too weak to fight back effectively against the GOP slime machine, just as Kerry and Gore did.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/hillary_pollster_mark_penn_hil.php

[Drunken Irishman]

1. I think they're getting a tad nervous now.

[jefferson_dem]

6. Here's a snapshot of scumsack Penn, taken earlier today...

[IndieLeft]

They remind me of Fox News.

You know, how they don't actually say something, they just ask.

Obama related to Bin Laden?
Democratic party about to implode?

You know what I mean... make a BS statement and justify it by putting a question mark at the end.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

2. Obama is more vulnerable to be the weak national security risk than Gore or Kerry

They will destroy him on that issue

[katty]

10. yup, they will rip him apart-McCain is a rabid dog fighting for

his life-and the GOP attack machine will be relentless and worse than ever (if that is even possible).

[Proud2BAmurkin]

16. National security will be even with or ahead of the economy if it's McCain and Obama

as the voter's top issue

[katty]

18. yes, it certainly will

[katty]

19. yes, it certainly will

[thevoiceofreason]

20. Hush, Murky

Isn't your lunch break over/

[Freetospeak]

3. More trash will not help.....They know the ship is going down FAST!

[stillrockin]

4. Code Obama!!! Be very afraid!!!

:nuke:

[Avalux]

5. Uh Oh. Don't go dissing Gore, Mr. Penn. He won the presidency.

I really think this tactic will backfire among core Democrats. He'd better be careful.

[book_worm]

7. So now her campaign is putting out the idea that Gore was a loser!

the winner of the popular vote and if all votes in FL had been counted (and he fought all the way to the Supreme Court to make it happen) he would have won the electoral vote.

[debatepro]

14. Must have realized Gore is going to endorse...

[jakem]

8. which fate... integrity? a nobel prize?

because McCain is more in touch with reality :lol:


Republican Slime is no more vetted than Clintons slime...

[Botany]

9. Hillary Pollster Mark Penn; why would anybody buy one word from this guy?

Blackwater Front Man ... Mark Penn
Union Busting Man ..... Mark Penn
I think we will skip the caucuses .... Mark Penn

BTW both Gore & Kerry won but were cheated by a rigged system

[NJSecularist]

11. Actually, they will paint Hillary as being a policy wonk successfully

just like they did with Gore and Kerry.

[thevoiceofreason]

12. The Creature from the Blackwater Lagoon speaks!

[debatepro]

13. Penn has to earn his 4.5 million somehow...

Keep spinning away buddy. As a former debater I'd take the Iraq was a mistake debate over stay in iraq fovever (McCain) or Vote to support the war now they don't (hillary - remember john kerry was a flip flopper) any day of the week and a billion times on sunday.

It's not even a challenge.

[Tatiana]

15. HA! This is funny coming from the Donna Brazile of democratic presidential campaigns. n/t

[nomorewhopper]

17. no offense to gore or kerry, but they have the combined charisma of obama's pinky toe :D

since clinton won with such overwhelming numbers, i've been convinced that charisma plays a huge role in the electability of our president. wjc had it, bigtime. bush, well, lets just say apparently people would rather have a beer with him than with gore, or kerry.

btw no offense to kerry or gore. but you must be honest that they never knew how to light a real fire in our bellies. well, maybe us DUers, but you know what i'm talking about :D

[loveangelc]

21. .

[cloudythescribbler]

22. ... actually I have secretly hired Penn to work for Obama. Isn't he doing GREAT? nt

[bridgit]

23. That's maybe not so far fetched as it may seem. While Dems run the risk..

of patting themselves on the back for voting for either a white woman, or a black man; the republican base will certainly coalesce round McCain a bit more as they understand they're about to lose the WH (the RW attack machine hasn't even been engaged as yet)making the need for Dem turnout/numbers irrefutably vital & important. It's that void of Dem self-assurance that republicans keep stepping into over & over, that and shaving some key points off the game, either way...

50%+1 democracy sucks :rant:

[John Q. Citizen]

24. He's going after Obama where Obama holds the aces. Typical Rove tactic. these guys learn fast.

Hillary has the highest negatives, so they attempt to use that as a strength.

Hillary hasn't even withstood the process of a Democratic nomination race. Her campaign is floundering. And she wants to pretend that means she is the stronger candidate?

Hill has never really been tested electorally. She cherry picked an open seat in New York, and has never had to really face any really tough competition. She's kind of the Elisabeth Dole of the DLC.

Both are strong ambitious women who worked as team members with their political spouses. And both were smart enough to choose targeted races where they could come on in and win fairly easily.

To be fair, Obama did the same thing in Il as the

But Obama is truly giving Hill a run for her money, 5 million so far admitted to, and Penn's argument that it proves Hill is more electable because Obama turns out more voters and more new voters doesn't make any sense.