Back in early 2014, a media leak revealed that Robby Mook was being considered to run a possible presidential campaign by Hillary Clinton.
Back in early 2014, a media leak revealed that Robby Mook was being considered to run a possible presidential campaign by Hillary Clinton. In fact, the 36-year-old was already on the job — almost three years before the vote.
“You are right abt a long term press strategy. Need a different voice responding to this stuff,” Mr Mook wrote to Cheryl Mills, Ms Clinton’s longtime aide, in February 2014.
Mr Mook’s message was among the thousands of gmail messages hacked from the account of John Podesta, Ms Clinton’s campaign chairman.
The emails show that the candidate and her closest collaborators were determined not to repeat the errors of Ms Clinton’s unsuccessful presidential bid in 2008, when she lost to a charismatic newcomer, Barack Obama.
The former secretary of state let speculation build about her possible run for the White House, coyly deflecting questions about her future plans by saying she was enjoying time with her granddaughter.
Nevertheless, the press was already alert to signs of a Clinton candidacy. Mr Mook’s message about press strategy was prompted by a news story that examined growing differences between Ms Clinton’s camp and Mr Obama’s inner circle.
By March 22, 2014, Mr Mook was starting to work on a campaign strategy, the emails show. He urged Ms Clinton not to run for the presidency, as she had in 2008, as a woman seeking to make history, warning that would be a “mistake.” Instead, Mr Mook argued that Ms Clinton should run as a champion of the middle class — a line she would embrace about a year later.
