From the start, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign has, for its media strategy, favored the long ball over minutia and tactics. When confronted with a charge from an opponent, Obama's aides would generally respond only when the accusation was manifestly unfair -- or if it repeated a direct falsehood about Obama's life, such as when Fox News repeated unfounded rumors that he was part-Muslim.
Occasionally, the aggressive push-back of the Clinton and Edwards campaigns -- both of whom have all-hours warroom operations -- has caused Obama to stumble.
Now the Obama campaign wants to better prepare itself for these day-to-day skirmishes.
Democrats familiar with Obama's operation said the campaign is looking to hire several Democrats with press and research experience who would man a 24/7 "warroom" operation.
Also, Dan Pfeiffer, formerly a senior adviser to Tom Daschle and Evan Bayh, has been brought back from the road to oversee the day-to-day communications planning.
Robert Gibbs, Obama's director of communications and one of his closest aides, will spend more time on the road with Obama to hone his message. Gibbs will work with campaign strategist David Axelrod on big-picture strategy and messaging.
An Obama spokesman declined to comment on internal campaign matters.
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I am glad to see David Gibbs speaking for Obama.
Axelrod is brilliant but does not come across well
via the media.
Posted by bARBARA McCormick | June 9, 2008 9:12 AM