Clinton spokesman: ’16 campaign would be ‘different’ than ’08

A Hillary Clinton spokesman says that if the former secretary of State launches a presidential bid, her campaign will be different than it was in 2008, when many criticized the way it was run.

{mosads}“If she runs, it will be different,” Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill told The New York Times.  

Clinton’s 2008 campaign, which saw Barack Obama come from behind to beat her in a drawn out primary battle, was filled with staffing problems. Clinton fired her campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, and chief strategist Mark Penn was widely blamed for the campaign’s failed course.

The Times reports that Clinton is seeking out a wider range of opinions as she attends parties and events this year.

The talk about a new campaign strategy comes as the The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Clinton is involved in talks about how to handle the transition from the campaign-in-waiting and whether to set up an exploratory committee before announcing. That report suggested the formal announcement would come in the spring.

At events this year, Clinton has been speaking out on women’s rights issues such as paid leave and equal pay, and repeatedly mentioning being a new grandmother.

Still, there are doubts about whether Clinton is plotting the right course this time around.

“What happened in 2008 was that Hillary’s candidacy got out in front of any rationale for it, and the danger is that that’s happening again,” David Axelrod, the former Obama adviser who helped defeat Clinton in 2008, said earlier this week on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”  

Clinton now has a range of former Obama staffers on her side. Obama’s 2012 campaign manager Jim Messina is co-chairman of the pro-Clinton super-PAC Priorities USA Action, and top Obama campaign aides Jeremy Bird and Mitch Stewart have joined the group Ready for Hillary.