Just hours before Tuesday’s Democratic debate, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign issued a scathing memo from chief strategist Mark Penn that incorporated the
phrase “politics of hope” seven times, a none-too-subtle dig at rival Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign slogan. The memo comes after recent negative comments by both Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, and it has been widely reported that the two rivals plan to step up their attacks on Clinton at the debate.
The Penn memo reads: “There’s been a lot of chatter lately about the ‘politics of hope.’ But what does the term mean? What are the ‘politics of hope?’… Does the ‘politics of hope’ mean launching attacks on one candidate?… Considering that both Senators Obama and Edwards made their names by pledging to be positive, the last thing one would have expected was for either of them to go out and announce with pride that they were now going to go negative on a fellow Democrat.”
This week, Clinton’s campaign launched a new ad called ‘There for You’ in New Hampshire and Iowa. It focuses on Clinton’s record fighting for seniors, specifically her efforts to thwart President Bush.
“When George Bush threatened to privatize social security, Hillary was there fighting every step of the way to stop him. And she was there for every senior who needs round-the-clock-care, creating a law to ease the burden on family caregivers. She’s still there fighting to stop long term care insurance scams that prey on the elderly. These days, it seems like every candidate on earth is coming here for you. But which candidate has been there for you all along?”
Following Tuesday’s debate in Philadelphia, Clinton plans to be in Washington, D.C. with no public campaign events Wednesday. Thursday, she is scheduled to attend events at Wellesley College and the University of New Hampshire. Friday, she is expected to officially file as a presidential candidate in New Hampshire, then talk to supporters in Concord.
Email This
Vote 2008 Subscriptions 
