Newsweek Ed: Hill's Campaign One of Worst Ever

Business and Media reports that, in an interview with Carol Joynt, Newsweek Senior Editor Jonathan Alter had some sharp criticisms of the way Hillary Clinton's campaign has been run:

"I'd say it's one of the worst run campaigns in modern political history, and she is one of the better candidates. That's the irony – that she turned out to be a pretty darn good candidate."

Alter told the audience gathered at Nathan's in the heart of the Georgetown neighborhood in Washington, D.C. on February 20 he thought many of the people running Clinton's campaign took her nomination for granted. Obama's campaign, he said, had more people on the ground. He predicted Obama to win, but said not to count Clinton out completely.

He did admit to saying earlier in the day on the Ed Shultz radio show that Hillary Clinton "could go out classy or could go out ugly."

Alter is also a frequent contributor to MSNBC, particularly Countdown, which recently had a bit of a dust-up with the Clinton campaign over the David Shuster "pimpcident." However, Alter's analysis is essentially correct, if a bit too late. I'd also quibble with the hyperbole, having worked on the 2004 Kerry campaign, which was partially molded on Mike Dukakis' 1988 bid. Alter could have issued a more timely and productive analysis when it still might have mattered. After the jump, I'll tell you who did just that, and why it can still work.

The full interview is presented below, in 5 parts. A similar, but more reasoned, analysis was published on these very pages last week, complete with a prescription for what ailed the Clinton campaign. Some quick bullet points:

• Clinton herself, and the rest of the DLC, stood in vehement opposition of Howard Dean's wildly successful "50 State Strategy", preferring instead to focus resources on Democratic strongholds in "big states."
• They're also focusing on wooing "Super Delegates" to put them over the top in the event of a narrow popular vote defeat. This sends the wrong message on two fronts: first, it is almost an admission of popular defeat, and second, it tells the voters that Clinton doesn't care what they think, much the same way the "Big State" strategy does.
• They are doing a terrible sales job, damning her with faint praise. Ready on day one? Vetted? Experienced? They're selling her like a pre-owned Mazda, when what they've got is the original Knight Rider car.

The solution?

To paraphrase Tom Cruise from Jerry Maguire, "Let Hillary be Hillary. Let Hillary be Hillary! Let Hillary. Be Hillary."

This thing is not over yet. For sure, the "delegate math" from here on out is daunting, and the possibility of victory is dimming, but there is still hope. Obama could experience a setback, a la John McCain, and there has been a budding backlash recently, fueled by Michelle Obama's misconstrued statements and Chris Matthews' pantsing of a prominent Obama supporter Tuesday night.

If they change course now, two things can be accomplished. First, they stop giving the GOP ammunition to use in the general election, while preserving Hilary's viability as a possible running mate to Obama. Secondly, she puts herself in a position to pick up the ball if Obama fumbles.

Wisconsin showed that the negative campaigning isn't working, and can't work quickly enough to help Clinton. She's beating on him with rungs from her own ladder. Hillary being Hillary is powerful. If she can bring the force of her will and personality to bear in an aggressive, but positive, ground game in Texas and Ohio, she can build the support she needs to stop Obama's momentum on March 4.

I sent the original piece to Clinton confidante John Graham last week for a reaction, but he just got it today. His response?

Tommy,I have been away. Great article .I will pass it to hillary. Best, John.....keep up your great work!

We'll see if somebody up there is listening.