The LA Times is reporting that: Clinton aides hint now things'll get nasty.
While you were sleeping, the chartered jet of the third-place finisher in the Iowa Democratic caucus winged its way from Des Moines to Manchester, N.H. And it sounds like some decisions were made on that plane that may alter the course of that party's presidential race.
At her concession speech in Des Moines Thursday night Hillary Clinton was all gracious and determined and smiling. But hours later on that flight someone named Mark Penn, who happens to be her chief political strategist, ominously told a gaggle of reporters, including The Times' Peter Nicholas, that the campaign's focus needs to shift now onto, you might have guessed, someone named Barack Obama.
It gets worse...
The Times goes on to note:
"This has been very much a referendum on her,'' said Penn. "And people will take a harder look at the choice and the kind of president who will be needed in these times.''
Penn hinted that the Clinton campaign may be poised to mount a more aggressive campaign in New Hampshire than in Iowa. "Time and again in the Democratic primaries," he said,....
"you've seen people latch onto the new, seemingly fresh candidate only to then take a sobering look at the choice they have when it comes down to the end of it. I think you're going to see that again.''
He claimed that Obama's record is comparatively unexplored and he suggested the news media should ask itself about taking a closer look at Obama's history. "Does everyone know everything they need to know about Barack Obama?'' Penn asked. "That's a decision you're going to have to make. I think at this point his record is not very well known. And she is really well-known. She's fully vetted, fully tested. And I don't think that process has occurred with Barack Obama.''
Sound eerily familiar? Sort of like Novak's story that the Clintons had the dirt on Obama, but decided not to use it? Or how about Sheehan's rhetorical "questions" about Obama?
This very much reminds me of what Bush did to John McCain in South Carolina in 2000. It's appalling and disgusting.
After making veiled threats, Penn states:
"The only thing Obama has going for him in New Hampshire," Penn added, "is some sense of momentum.
Gee. What about 500,000 campaign donors - and campaign coffers that match those of HRC? Were those just imaginary friends and momopoly money?
The good news, friends, is that I'm now "off the fence." My candidate of choice is now officially ADBH...Any Dem But Hillary.