So I like many other's just received an email in my inbox from Senator Clinton detailing her decision to suspend her campaign and support Barack Obama. More on the email at the diary by ari here. I was pleased but also confused -
- I'm not signed up for any Clinton email lists
- I got the email at 1:52 AM. It also came as an email, and not as a speech or a memo - and this is big news.
My thoughts below the jump...
As to the cause, I'm pretty sure that it was sent out to the people who sent a message to Hillary Clinton.com. The text at the bottom of the message made it seem pretty clear that it came from the Clinton campaign and that I was subscribed.
What's important about that is that this message was likely sent out to a huge number of her supporters - to the very people who likely wrote in to encourage her to stay in the race. This might be a good way for the news to be broken, without the punditry normally associated with such a release.
That brings me to my next point: releasing this news by email at and at 1:52 AM seems to be a very strange choice. It ensures that just about everyone but us night owl internet addicts will get it in the morning with coffee, and also that they will get it directly and without comment. How much of that was strategy, and how much of it was pressure? The media already had the story of her decision to drop out, so releasing any kind of statement took charge of that news by making a direct statement instead of allowing speculation and spin.
Think about it: If Clinton wanted to drop out in a meeting with supporters, there was no reason at all to wait until Saturday if she was ready to announce the information beforehand. The purpose of the meeting likely leaked, and the campaign sent this in an effort to put a lid on the rumors and gain control of the story.
But it leaves a big open question: How does the candidate (and for that matter, her top surrogates) behave until Saturday. Even the email says "On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama" - and not simply "I extend my congratulations...". When asked tomorrow, is she going to say 'No, Chris - I'm still in the race, and I'm going to president - until Saturday"??? Very strange.
Something about this is definitely off, and it would seem that the email move is more damage control than careful strategy.
This is just my second diary, so any comments about its content and form are as appreciated as comments about Clinton's email!