Patti Solis Doyle was former head of the Hillary Clinton campaign. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, she is the first Hispanic woman to have managed a presidential campaign. Doyle still retains a senior position on the Clinton campaign. It is reported that Clinton and Doyle have not spoken since her removal from the top position on the campaign and her subsequent replacement by Maggie Williams. The determined 43-year-old has now moved on after having served with Clinton from Y2K forward. While the reasons for her removal from the top of Clinton’s campaign remain hushed, these reasons were apparently not enough to dissuade Barrack Obama from enlisting Doyle’s help.
Assuming that Doyle can engineer a vibrant campaign, learning from the mistakes of Clinton’s steely image, she could provide an asset to the Obama campaign. It is unclear how the dynamic will play out between Obama and Clinton after the hiring of a top Clinton aid. If Clinton’s own words are to be trusted, it could prove a powerful double-team as Clinton has declared her full support and endorsement of Barrack Obama for the 2008 election. Such a move was entirely necessary if Clinton has any hope for a future Presidential bid, as she will want to distance herself as much as possible from the divisive image for which she has come to be known.
While an Obama/Clinton ticket is still up-in-the-air, her mere presence and experience would be of great help to her previous opponent as he is still testing the waters and learning the ropes. For those uneasy with his lack of experience, a Clinton endorsement will undoubtedly put some of the more pervasive fears at ease regarding his ability to run a country effectively.
Another up-hill battle that seems to be the white elephant in the room is his race. While no one will admit to being a racist, many quietly fear Obama has his own racial agenda. As discouraging as it is that this type of racial stereotyping still exists in the twenty-first century, it is a battle Obama will have to face. He has handled this matter in a delicate way without compromising his values. With the backing of Clinton, such racial tensions may be eased in the minds of voters still clinging to prejudice. The hiring of Hispanic Doyle also goes to show Obama’s true dedication to racial equality.
Religion has also proved to be a struggle for Obama, if for no other reason than his middle name (Hussein). Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ and is in no way affiliated with Islam. Even if he was, it is a shame that America remains religiously uneducated to the point of mistaking extremist terrorists for mainstream Muslims. This topic aside, a backing from outspokenly middle-American Christian Clinton will serve to quiet the whispered urban legends of Obama’s past.
Clinton’s biggest gift to Obama is her full support. By not contesting his nomination, she has provided an image of unity in the party. Handing over one of her top aides has only further shown her sincerity in supporting Obama and lays to rest fears of his lack of know-how with the political sphere and Democratic party as a whole. With Clinton and Doyle in his back pocket, Barrack Obama is well on his way to the White House.
