Whouley Consults For The Clinton Campaign -- But Not In Iowa

Magical. Mysterious. Scary. All those adjectives to the Bostonian named Michael Whouley, probably the most famous, least-attention seeking and most-regarded political organizer of his generation. If there is a vote to be gotten, he is the best getter.

According to a campaign official, Mr. Whouley has been brought in an as extra set of eyes for the Clinton campaign. He's finishing a review of the campaign's New Hampshire field operation at the moment.

So far, so good: Whouley apparently likes what he sees.

Fieldwise, Clinton's top generals are in Iowa. And it is perhaps a sign of confidence -- or a gesture meant to be interpreted as a sign of confidence -- that Mr. Whouley has not been asked to take a gander at the campaign's Iowa operation. (Yet.)

David Barnhardt and Karen Hicks, both Whouley protege, helped design the campaign's sophisticated turnout program, he as caucus director and she as the planner. And then there is Clinton's Iowa state director, the extremely well-regarded Theresa Vilmain, whose legend in the Democratic world is eclipsed only by Mr. Whouley's (and, perhaps, by Steve Hildebrand, a deputy campaign manager for Obama who now lives at a Des Moines hotel.)

Clinton's national political director, Guy Cecil, a younger, less bald, less profane version of Whouley, is in New Hampshire, and his supervision of a field organization put together by state director Nick Clemons, apparently passed Whouley's bow-to-stern inspection.

In 1992, Whouley served as national field director for the Clinton-Gore ticket.

In 2000, Whouley is credited with forcing Gore to engage in more retail policking, a decision that helped to save his campaign in New Hampshire against Bill Bradley.

In 2004, he helped John Kerry turn around his fortunes in Iowa. He was Kerry's annointed field czar in the general election, and, horrors, actually found himself conducting telephonic phone briefings with the press.

In 2007, he waited for Kerry to decide whether to run; when Kerry did not, he privately agreed to help the Clinton campaign.

(Note: the Page reported on 12/14 that Whouley was a secret "conscript" in Clinton's army.)

Comments

I wonder if your sources are telling you he is not doing anything in Iowa because the're trying to lower expectations there.

Posted by RKA | December 18, 2007 9:01 AM

It could be that he hasn't gone to Iowa because the Clinton campaign doesn't want headlines like, "Notorious campaign fixer brought to Iowa to right troubled Clinton ship."

Posted by Democrats Against Hillary | December 18, 2007 10:24 AM

Geez. Never seen such ass-kissing of a source. Did Whouley write this?

Posted by MarksinTheTank | December 18, 2007 10:45 AM

Yet another high-priced consultant firm, whose firm most of its non-political work for corporations, to help drive up her spending.

How much of that $80m do you think she has left, Marc?

Posted by Gu | December 18, 2007 11:10 AM

I'm guessing this is all known because the Clinton campaign is broadcasting it. Could it be to shore up the growing doubts of some supporters?

Posted by Paul | December 18, 2007 1:12 PM

For what its worth, the Boston Globe displayed another Clinton campaign contradiction. The campaign press release on the drug pusher thing echoed Penn's words that Shaheen, feeling bad over his statement, resigned as national co-chair.

Clinton this morning said she had to ask him to step down.

According to the Globe, the campaign hasn't responded to a request for clarification.

Posted by Paul | December 18, 2007 2:33 PM

Turn-out is going to be too high for Michael Whooley to matter.

Posted by Karen | December 18, 2007 4:07 PM

For what its worth, the Boston Globe displayed another Clinton campaign contradiction. The campaign press release on the drug pusher thing echoed Penn's words that Shaheen, feeling bad over his statement, resigned as national co-chair. Clinton this morning said she had to ask him to step down. According to the Globe, the campaign hasn't responded to a request for clarification.

Why is there any need for clarification, except in the fevered, paranoid brains of Obamanites? Shaheen felt bad. Hillary asked him to resign. He complied. Pretty simple. This happens all the time in employment relations, by the way: very few people get fired any more. Your employer asks for your resignation. And you comply. Sheesh.

I don't think it's the Clinton campaign that's doing the panicking, judging from the tenor of the comments.

Posted by Hillary will beat the GOP like a red haired stepchild | December 18, 2007 5:16 PM

If I recall correctly, last cycle Whouley worked first in New Hampshire for Kerry, then went to Iowa, then back to NH after Iowa was done. His estimation at that time was that Kerry HAD to win Iowa. Hillary has much stronger support generally than Kerry did, so maybe they want to let Hillary start slowly in Iowa, let the spotlight shine on Obama or Edwards for a bit, then change the momentum further down the road. It looks like a three way split in Iowa anyway, no matter how hard she camaigned there, it's doubtful she could build a significant margin. Or maybe Michael Whouley just dislikes Iowa. That would be understandable.

Posted by robert ethan | December 18, 2007 5:55 PM

Michael Whouley is in Iowa. Don't let anyone tell you he isn't.

Posted by Michael's Mom | December 18, 2007 10:48 PM

Lots of Dewey Square Group folks working for Hillary this time around. Typical for the Democratic establishment candidate.

Posted by bob | December 19, 2007 9:36 PM