Mark Penn Resigns As Clinton’s Senior Strategist

April 7, 2008 · Filed Under Politics

From the AP:

Mark Penn, the pollster and senior strategist for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential bid, left the campaign Sunday after it was disclosed he met with representatives of the Colombian government to help promote a free trade agreement Clinton opposes.

“After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton Campaign,” campaign manager Maggie Williams said in a statement released Sunday. “Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign.”

Communications director Howard Wolfson and pollster Geoff Garin will direct the campaign’s message and strategic efforts for the campaign going forward, Williams said.

It’s pretty amazing that Mark Penn didn’t think such a blatant conflict of interest would be a problem for the Clinton campaign. How do you play both sides of an issue like that and expect to be taken seriously?

-Chris Jones