Joe Lockhart's in the House!

Kerry Enlisting Clinton Aides in Effort to Refocus Campaign

I think there is some over-reaction to Kerry's quiet August. People forget that a quiet August was the plan, waiting until after the RNC Convention to then move into the home-stretch. This had a lot to do with money as well as 'strategery'.

Having said that, I too have been frustrated with Kerry's slow response to attacks. I've also been frustrated with what appears to me to be a DNC that has been AWOL,...but I have no idea what they are doing in OH, WI, MI, etc.

Anyway, the NYT's has posted this to their front page on the web. Here is a bit:

Former President Bill Clinton, in a 90-minute telephone conversation from his hospital room, offered John Kerry detailed advice on Saturday night on how to reinvigorate his candidacy, as Mr. Kerry enlisted more Clinton advisers to help shape his strategy and message for the remainder of the campaign.

In an expansive conversation, Mr. Clinton, who is awaiting heart surgery, told Mr.Kerry that he should move away from talking about Vietnam, which had beenthe central theme of his candidacy, and focus instead on drawing contrasts withPresident Bush on job creation and health care policies, officials with knowledge of the conversation said.

Clintonites in camp now include Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary; Joel Johnson, a former senior White House aide; and Doug Sosnik, a former Clinton political director. And Howard Wolfson, a former chief of staff to Hillary Rodham Clinton, joined the campaign yesterday.

Here some more:

Officials with knowledge of the Clinton conversation said it came after Mr. Kerry called Mr. Clinton at Columbia-Presbyterian Center of New York Presbyterian Hospital on Friday to wish him well. Mr. Clinton, who was described by advisers as concerned by the direction of the Kerry campaign, thanked him and suggested that the two men talk over the weekend about the campaign, which they did Saturday night.

The telephone conversation, which was described as detailed and expansive, with Mr. Kerry doing more listening than talking, also included Mr. Lockhart, who joined Mr. Kerry's campaign as a senior adviser about two weeks ago. Mr. Lockhart declined to comment on the conversation.

Can't you just picture Bill explaining it all to Kerry?

Go read the article.