Senator Joe Biden’s selection as the Vice Presidential nominee creates a short-term challenge for the Obama campaign: how to manage disgruntled Clinton supporters at the convention. Disappointment among some women voters, of course, could plague the Illinois Senator for the duration of the campaign. As J.P. Green noted this weekend at the Democratic Strategist
In Denver, some Clinton fans promise a protest, so the presumptive Democratic nominee’s team must keep the “Hillary was scorned comments” to a minimum. Modern conventions serve as an extended party infomercial. Behind the scenes, planners meticulously orchestrate details of speeches and floor demonstrations down to the second. They pitch surrogates with tightly controlled “message of the day” talking points. Coordinating these made-for-TV events means starting the top speakers in prime time, ensuring they end precisely at 11:00 p.m. Eastern (so talking head pundits can’t filter the message), and demonstrating wild enthusiasm on the floor at just the right moments. The party nominee’s campaign staff also organizes elaborate whip teams to manage the convention floor – like getting the drunk delegate with the weird hat out of camera range. Or more to the point for this convention, making sure the weeping Hillary supporters don’t talk to reporters. These convention “whip operations” have been necessary parts of both Democratic and Republican party confabs in the age of television. That’s why I found this Politico post intriguing:
Message to Hillary supporters: Keep the cowbells and kazoos in your hotel rooms. HT: The Democratic Strategist
