Clinton's Chief Strategist is Gone

The guy who predicted that 25% of Republican women would vote for Hillary Clinton has left the campaign:

While the news of chief political strategist Mark J. Penn's abrupt departure from Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign this evening took many in the Democratic political world by surprise, talk soon turned to how the move would impact the overall message of the campaign. One Democratic consultant, granted anonymity to speak candidly, predicted "a less combative campaign and more focused on her strengths."

Penn was a major influence in Clinton's decision to focus on her toughness and readiness to be commander in chief during the campaign. He was one of the guiding forces behind the now-infamous "3 am" telephone ringing at the White House ad that sought to raise questions about Sen. Barack Obama's (Ill.) ability to lead the country in the event of a national security crisis. That ad ran in the lead-up to the March 4 Texas primary, which Clinton won.

As recently as last week, Penn continued to push that line of attack on a campaign conference call with reporters. "Part of the vetting process is who is ready to be commander in chief," he said, before adding: "We believe Senator Clinton is the most ready to be commander in chief."

During that same conference call last week, Penn argued that the race was far from over and that any number of twists and turns were possible before voting ended on June 3. He offered a quote ("Anything can happen in the last several months of an election campaign") that seems eerily predictive of his own future in the campaign in retrospect.

The shakeup was announced this evening in a statement issued by campaign manager Maggie Williams.

"After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist of the Clinton Campaign," Williams said. "Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign." Sources close to Clinton insist Penn stepped aside and was not forced to relinquish his position.

The events Williams is referring to is a meeting between Penn and the Colombian government as he sought to help them negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement between themselves and the United States. Clinton is on the record in opposition to the plan, and, Penn was forced to issue a quick apology once the news of his meeting was reported. Several labor unions called for Penn to be fired from the campaign, however, and it appears as though Clinton took the moment to rearrange her political operation.

Jim Geraghty thinks this could portend an early departure from the race by Hillary herself:

The chances of Hillary Clinton quitting before the voting is over is nil - Bill Clinton is off to Puerto Rico on Monday.

But with the departure of Mark Penn from formal leadership the Hillary campaign, resigning as chief strategist, it suddenly doesn't seem unthinkable that Hillary Clinton might throw in the towel before the Democratic convention in Denver.

With this move, Hillary gave the unions de facto authority to fire her campaign staff. Lefties of various sorts have complained about Penn since the beginning of Hillary's campaign; the ultra-connected consultant has had a bulls-eye on his back since day one. Hillary (and presumably Bill) stuck with him because they felt that his pugnacious, poll-watching, methodical manner was the best bet to getting the nomination. With only a few states remaining, it's a little late for a new and different approach. This was the candidate knuckling under to outside forces howling over the chief strategist's misdeed.

This guy has been a disaster for a long time (not for the GOP but for Clinton). Who else could lose 11 races in a row and keep his job?