At what point did Hillary's financial incompetence become Obama's problem?

When he became the Democratic nominee, that's when.

Let me preface this by stating that I've been a die-hard Obama supporter since the beginning. And by the time March, April, and May rolled around, and Clinton was still in the race, my blood was boiling over. How could she continue a campaign she had NO hope of winning? How DARE she damage the nominee by staying in with the kitchen-sink strategy? How DARE she keep asking for money from those poor, working-class folks she claimed to be fighting for, when she knew it was just to pay off HER debts (and not, as she claimed, to win the campaign)? Somewhere along the line, Senator Clinton should have realized the Wisdom of the Crowds: when people won't give you money, it means they have little faith in you winning.

Even now, it seems that the pay-my-debts demand seems arrogant. I especially liked the analogy above: "They played demolition derby with us, and now they want a tow after running their car into the ditch."

But here's the problem: Clinton may have driven the car, but the bet in the demolition derby was that the winner got the loser's car. All those vendors, strategists, and other debtees might be a lot less willing to work for the Obama campaign in the fall (or Democrats in future years) if they don't get the money they're owed. So that 50-state strategy, energized by the dramatic-if-futile race between Obama and Clinton as they raced through the states and built up the infrastructure of support networks, would be harmed when those very networks are less willing to help out a candidate who wouldn't help get them paid.

So, yes, have Obama's mega-rich, maxed-out donors help pay down Clinton's debts. Except for the Clintons themselves, who should have realized the folly of their investment. Also, ignore Mark Penn's debts: without the Clintons, he won't be helping out the Democrats anytime soon. Or at least we can hope.

Posted at June 25, 2008 2:15 PM in response to Obama Making Private Calls Appealing To Hillary's Top Fundraisers -- And Sometimes Hearing Criticism In Return

IS

Posted at May 16, 2008 5:50 AM in response to Obama Is +11 on the Delegate Count Today