Hillary will win Iowa because Teresa Vilmain is running the show there

[Herman Munster]

She's the best in the business going back 20 years in the Iowa caucus.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/06/AR2007060602852.html

Vilmain, 48, has been a near-legend among caucus operatives since she ran Michael S. Dukakis's Iowa campaign two decades ago at the age of 28. She was raised on Iowa politics, watching as her mother held Democratic caucuses in their Cedar Falls home. With her long skirts and her long hair pulled atop her head, she could be mistaken for an English professor. But she strides into rooms as if tilted against a gale, speaks in the staccato delivery of a ward boss, and never ends a meeting without "action items" for everyone present.
--

"If you can get Teresa Vilmain, you do it," said John Norris, a longtime Democratic strategist in Iowa who is not working for a campaign now. "You do whatever it takes to get on board."

"We have to work hard and work smart. At the end of the day, it's about what's best for Hillary Clinton . . . and about how does your work fit into the overall goal of getting her into the White House," she said. "I don't view this as a game, because it's not always fun. It's hard work. It's a serious business."

[cali]

1. We'll see.

There's plenty of competition for Clinton in Iowa. I suspect she's going to lose there despite Vilmain and a huge organization.

[Stop Cornyn]

2. This is from June? What role did Teresa Vilmain play in Vilsack's triumphant presidential campaign?

[Herman Munster]

3. In June Hillary was behind in all the Iowa polls

What do you think has happened since Teresa has come on board?

[Debi]

5. You can't blame her for TV's political demise

He did that all by himself! (she's just a very loyal person)

[Stop Cornyn]

6. Even a good sales person cannot move a weak product (whether it's TV or HRC). I'm not blaming her

for TV's collapse; I'm just wondering how invincible she is in light of TV's collapse.

Also, if Dukakis '88 is her claim to fame, didn't Dukakis finish third in the Iowa caucuses?

I bet she's a great person to have on board, but I still see Hillary as finishing 2nd (at best).

[Debi]

7. Yes, and he rolled that third place win into the nomination

Which is why I've said repeatedly on this board that there are 'three tickets out of Iowa'.

Coming in first in Iowa doesn't guarantee anything and coming in second or third won't kill a campaign.

It's all how the campaign can re-organize for NH (NV and SC) and how the media spins it.

As for TV, he just foolishly thought Iowa Democrats actually liked him x(

[Debi]

4. She actually worked w/my husband 15 years ago.

and she is AWESOME!

The Clinton campaign is very lucky to have Vilmain on board.

However, no matter how good a campaign operative is, people are going to support or not support the candidate.

Don't blame Teresa if Clinton doesn't come in first, blame Clinton.

[durrrty libby]

8. I hope it happens but some say NH is even more important

[Debi]

9. Meh, what do they know???

:p