sharpton, gop operative and a clinton aide tag team on dean.
The Rev. Al Sharpton has demonstrated his quick wit and deft use of one-liners in his campaign for president. But while the delivery has been all his own, he had help shaping his message from an unlikely source: Roger Stone, a political consultant who worked for Richard M. Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
Mr. Stone, who describes himself as a Republican-libertarian, has had a hand in some of Mr. Sharpton's most effective attacks on Howard Dean, aides to Mr. Sharpton said. By extension, he has played a role in shaping the dynamic of the Democratic primary, political strategists and observers said.
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Mr. Stone did not want to discuss the specifics of his relationship with Mr. Sharpton, but aides Mr. Sharpton confirmed his involvement in that and other aspects of the campaign.
Mr. Sharpton acknowledged that he frequently spoke with Mr. Stone, but said he consulted with many political strategists.
"I talk to him from time to time on his perspective," Mr. Sharpton said in a recent interview. "Does he have a role in this campaign? Do I consider him an adviser? No."
But aides to Mr. Sharpton said Mr. Stone's role is far more central. The aides said that he consults with Mr. Stone about once a week and that Mr. Stone helped give shape and purpose to a campaign that was floundering.
Mr. Stone has advised Mr. Sharpton before national debates, encouraged him to implement a "rapid response" system, and introduced him to the man who became his national campaign manager, Charles Halloran, the aides said. Mr. Stone provides ideas and direction, while Mr. Halloran, who was an aide to Bill Clinton in his first campaign for president, does the front-line work.
In the attacks on Dr. Dean, for instance, Mr. Stone helped set the tone and direction while Mr. Halloran did the research. Mr. Halloran came up with Dr. Dean's hiring record as governor, for example, aides to Mr. Sharpton said.
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a republican political hit man introduces to sharpton a former clinton aide, who hires him to be his campaign manager. the trio then collude to take down dean.
what do you make of that?