Clinton Staffers See Campaign Winding Down.

[Ichingcarpenter]

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- As the 17 month campaign winds down with just three contests left, is it possible that this may be Hillary Clinton’s final week in the campaign? Could it be possible that after all this time, the once perceived inevitable Democratic nominee will be bowing out to make way for the junior senator from Illinois? The numbers are important, but visual cues may tell the real story.

But it’s not always about the numbers. During the campaign in Puerto Rico, a few interesting things have happened that seem to point to the fact that both Clinton and her staff expect the race to be over soon. For one, almost all of the campaign’s press advance team is on the ground in Puerto Rico (these are the young folks who arrive days before the candidate to help coordinate the events). Some hinted that this was, perhaps, a final gift or vacation for a group of hard-working staffers.

Also, one campaign worker who was recently married, and has been with Clinton from the early snowy mornings in Iowa until now, has been looking forward to a honeymoon. The staffer was seen searching Caribbean destinations over the internet.

Last night, after a full day of campaigning in Puerto Rico, Clinton decided to take her staff to dinner at an upscale steakhouse located inside the hotel where the campaign was staying. What struck some of us in the press, who were eating at the same restaurant but not with Clinton, was that everyone, from the make-up artists to the most senior staffers, was sitting at one big table. Usually, Clinton sits with important political officials or meets with newspaper editors while her staff sits at separate tables or spends time mingling with the press. Last night, there was no contact with the media as the campaign sat as one big family gathered around for perhaps one last supper.


http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/05/26/politics/fromtheroad/entry4126850.shtml

[Me.]

1. Points For That

I bet the staff appreciated that dinner

[PoliticalAmazon]

2. I bet the restaurant owner won't appreciate trying to get paid. n/t

[rainbow4321]

14. No kidding....

Anyone see money exchange hands?? Get the name of that restaurant and look for it to show up on the next FEC debt list!!!

[HooptieWagon]

3. Maybe the bouncing paychecks have given them the clue? n/t

[Arugula Latte]

4. Are they getting tired of the giant game of "Let's Pretend Hillary Is Really the Nominee"?

[LSparkle]

5. The footage I saw this a.m. of her "getting down" in a bar was telling

She was letting her hair down like I've never seen her
(or any political candidate) within shot of a camera.
It looked like she didn't care who saw her doing what
or where ... I truly think her campaign died Friday
afternoon when she had to give that apology in the
convenience store in S.D. ... You could see it in her
body language -- she was looking at the floor, only
occasionally looking reporters in the eye -- she knew
she'd just delivered her campaign a death blow with
her own comments.

[blogslut]

9. She looked small and sad

and defeated

[mamalone]

6. This has got to be a tough time for them...

I have no love left for Hillary at this point, but I can't help but feel some compassion for her as this comes to a close. I keep wondering, what is she going to do the day after she finally concedes? will she be able to rest? will she be able to let it go? what will she and Bill find to talk about? It's so sad to see your dreams die....


Of course she may not actually concede. She may keep barreling and pounding away at this, in which case my last shreds of positive feeling for her will die, and I will regret even this compassion..

[AllentownJake]

7. It must be hard on the staff

They travel from state to state with little pay and work very long hours. The Obama staffer I worked with in PA worked from 8am-11pm 7 days a week. I imagine the Hillary staff has been working the same hours.

They do it out of belief for the candidate but also because people who work for the campaigns tend to end up working in administrations. When you lose that dream goes out the window as well.

[Swamp Rat]

8. If she leaves by June 4th, she may salvage the wreckage that is her political career.

If she continues...

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. June 4th will be a telling day on what direction and path she will take

She could even revive her senatorial career and legacy with the correct speech
otherwise she could just as easily end it with wrong one.

I feel Carter and Gore will be making phone calls behind the scenes before that date.

[Swamp Rat]

12. I think so too, but they better wear ear plugs to attenuate the high frequencies.

:D

[WillyT]

13. God, Swamp... Let Her See That...

Her rehabilitation and the Party's healing are gonna be priority one between now and Denver.

From your keyboard, to Hillary's ego.

:shrug:

[msedano]

10. what this could have been...

if the campaign weren't so moribund the whole group dining together coulda been a shining moment of cultural appropriateness. boricua culture, like most latino cultures, values, treasures, the family. demonstrations of this type of togetherness send a brilliant message of identification with the host culture. voters would flock to the candidate who creates this kind of image.

[MindMatter]

15. Of course it is winding down.

There are only 3 primaries left. She won't be doing a campaign in the fall, and doesn't have any money to pay the staff anyway.

But that doesn't mean Hillary is shutting HERSELF down. She simply doesn't need to write IOSs to a full staff when there are no primaries to contest.