The Cain mutiny occurred just prior to his public dust-up with Rick Perry over the media sensationalizing a rock in West Texas, which might explain how Cain ended up slamming Perry rather than the media, for making something out of nothing.
Ellen Carmichael, who has spent over a year working for Cain, said that her departure is a personal decision about her career.
“I think my leaving now is a reflection on my earnestness to leave rather than a reflection of the campaign,” she said.
“I’m still very fond of him,” said Carmichael, adding that there is no tension or disagreement over the departure.
“I’m honored to have worked for someone with such character and decency,” said Carmichael.
Following the news of her departure Cain’s campaign issued the following statement, “Ms. Carmichael decided to pursue other opportunities. We appreciate her service to the campaign.”
Her departure comes just as a recent Fox News poll shows Cain jumping into the top tier of GOP presidential candidates.
Carmichael’s assistant Francis Boustany is also leaving. J.D. Gordon, a senior adviser on foreign policy and security who joined the team last month, will take over as campaign spokesman.
Cain has risen to the top tier of candidates over the past week, so his comms team’s departure is more than a bit surprising.
I don’t find this surprising at all. While we will ALL miss Ellen and KNOW that she has worked tirelessly for Mr. Cain – she is also very loyal to him and dedicated to his campaign. As Mr. Cain rises, so should his team working behind the scenes – and I believe this was something Ellen recognized. Ellen is very young and began working for Mr. Cain about a year ago, not long out of college. I firmly believe she resigned for someone with MUCH more experience to fill her shoes. We all wish her the very best in her future endeavors! -
The Cain Mutiny? C’Mon, Preston, we know you’re in the tank for Perry, but Perry has no one to blame but himself…you know, if you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen…
Bryan, I know you’re experienced expert in this subject. So I’m gonna pose a couple questions.
(A) Does this shake up reflect a change in the campaign’s direction and message? Up until about a week or so ago, you’d never find Herman even mentioning his rivals for the nomination. Now, not an interview goes by without him sharply criticizing one or another of the other candidates. Two word description of Mitt: “Good Hair.” One word for Santorum: “Stressed.” “I can’t support Perry for the nomination for any number of reasons, including illegal immigration.” “Christie is too liberal to be the nominee.” Perry is grossly insensitive re racial epithets. Is this change related to Carmichael out, Gordon in?
(B) Is this change just a normal part of the periodic shake-ups which any campaign experiences, especially a burgeoning candidacy like Cain’s? It doesn’t look like this change is similar to the absolute meltdowns in staffing suffered by the Gingrich and Huntsman camps. It’s just one staffer and her associate/ assistant. Instead of representing a change in direction or message, maybe Herman’s just looking for a better fit with the rest of his staff. Perhaps it’s a personal thing. Perhaps it’s a performance thing.
No, I don’t see this as a campaign meltdown at all. Just odd timing, which may have any number of explanations including the one that HLong135 offers. As for “mutiny,” that’s just a little play on the old movie title. I will say that Cain needs to become better informed on some things before commenting on them. He has shown a pattern of rising on his strengths, and then stumbling due to incomplete information.
I agree. I thought HLong135′s comment seems a quite plausible explanation (I’d not seen until after I posted mine).
This seems odd. Cain appoints a top tier spokesperson with loads of experience over a girl just out of college and the story is ‘Communications Team Resigns’? Hmmm. Makes me wonder if there is an agenda here. Perhaps somebody is in the tank for Perry?
If you’re not one of the select, you’re not a real candidate?