Meet Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton's Secret Weapon

[cali]

On a joyous early November evening in 2013, newly elected Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe celebrated his victory alongside hundreds of loyal supporters. Despite having never held elected office, the former Democratic National Committee chairman had prevailed over the state's Tea Partying attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli, in a tight and vicious race. While McAuliffe had celebrity, the bigger force behind his impressive—and perhaps unlikely—win stood off to the side, out of the spotlight, exactly where he likes to be

Robby Mook boasts one of the most impressive résumés in Democratic campaigning—out-organizing Barack Obama's 2008 team in Nevada, Indiana, and Ohio while working for Hillary Clinton's first campaign, and leading the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are among the highlights. But the 35-year-old Vermont native prefers to operate in the shadows, rarely talking about his political victories and the politicians he's helped put in office.

In his next job, as the presumptive campaign manager for the presumed Clinton presidential campaign, Mook will face his biggest challenge to date, tasked with keeping a $1 billion effort of big personalities and bigger egos on track, on time, and on point. If he succeeds, Mook won't be able to keep his name from being mentioned alongside men like Jim Messina, David Axelrod, and Karl Rove—in other words, his years of discreetly pulling the strings of Democratic politics are coming to an end.

<snip>

Among his operative acolytes, Mook seems to engender overwhelming loyalty and dedication. Former campaign vets remember that during the 2008 Nevada primary, Mook as treated like a cult figure whenever he stopped by the dive bar where Hillary staffers would spend what limited free time they had. "Robby does relationships," said Teresa Vilmain, a veteran Democratic campaign organizer. "He takes time to get to know people. He invests in relationships. He's not afraid to ask questions. He knows what he doesn't know and hires people who are smarter than him in those areas."

<snip>

For a Clinton campaign that has struggled with discipline and infighting, Mook's reputation for avoiding drama could be a crucial asset. And significantly, Clinton appears to trust Mook. "You can't have someone in such a pivotal and important position who is unknown," Ellen Tauscher, a former congresswoman, State Department official, and Clinton ally, told Bloomberg. "For people that want to be reassured about no repeat of 2008 issues, I think that he definitely answers the mail on that, too."

<snip>
http://www.vice.com/read/meet-robby-mook-hillary-clintons-secret-weapon-220

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. TY for posting. Will read later. Watching a basketball game now./NT

[DFW]

2. If Clinton enters the race, she will also need three-not-so secret weapons

1.) Only moderate primary challenges, mainly put up for the twin purposes of trying to get her to articulate positions leftward from where she is presumed to stand now, and to jockey for positioning as her VP choice

2.) A weak, nut case Republican opponent, so distasteful to the public that not even Koch money, Fox Noise or National Hate Radio can convince enough voters to give their vote to the Republican ticket. Caveat: over 40 of America will vote R no matter what, even if their ticket consists of a turd and a fart (see 2008 and 2012).

3.) Enough money to wipe out the national debt of a moderately-sized Latin American country.

[cali]

3. I concur. She is not a strong campaigner.

[MBS]

4. Agreed.

If she is to be the Democratic nominee, I fervently hope that Mook is as effective as advertised.

[MBS]

5. plus a fourth:

4) whether or not she has a serious primary challenger, she absolutely must do extensive , up-close-and-personal campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire (and, wherever possible, Iowa-style and NH-style campaigning in other states as well). This is necessary not only for the voters (who will remember her presence or absence not only in the primary/caucus process, but also when they make their vote in the general election ), but also, especially, for the candidate herself. She needs to re-acquaint herself with what is really on the minds and hearts of real voters (as opposed to polls and pollsters and consultants, which are poor and misleading substitutes for real conversations with real people) , and it is the best route to sharpening herself as a candidate. If she makes a serious and enthusiastic effort to do so, it could reduce concerns about entitlement, secrecy, etc.

[DFW]

6. You're right, she'll need that, too

And if THAT'S a secret, it bodes ill for a successful campaign, no matter who is running it.

Actually, I find her strength is in one-on-one encounters. It's her crowd skills that she'll need to work on. I've seen her in both situations, and she is brilliant in small groups, seems less comfortable with crowds. Bill loves crowds, and has them eating out of his hand in no time. I don't know if that's something that can be learned, but with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton as instructors, if THAT team can't show her how it's done, no one can.

[marshall]

10. Her besT secret weapon is Joe Biden

she should count her lucky stars every night that nobody has ever considered him a serious and viable candidate.

[Hoppy]

7. The shame of it is that come Januaru, 2017, she won't give a rat's ass what you and I care about.

[cali]

8. I never thought she did. I am one of Hillary's harshest critics on DU.

[RBInMaine]

11. Bullshit ! Please, enough of the hyperbole. Either support the Dem nominee or join the Republicans.

I will support the Dem nominee no matter who it is. Enough of the circular firing squad please. Enough.

[Hoppy]

12. Did I miss something? Who is the nominee? When was the convention?

[Hekate]

9. Kick. Some good insights in this thread. nt