Penn Out as Clinton's Top Strategist

By Anne E. Kornblut
The Washington Post

Mark J. Penn quit his role as chief strategist for the Clinton campaign on Sunday after months of dissatisfaction with his performance and a recent conflict of interest involving his corporate work. Although rumors of his firing had circulated for months, it was another stunning upheaval in a struggling campaign that has already had one staff shakeup.

The immediate trigger for Penn's departure was a meeting he held last week with the Colombian ambassador to the United States to advocate for a free trade agreement that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton opposes. Penn held the meeting in his capacity as chief executive officer for the public relations giant Burson-Marsteller -- and it underscored the tricky nature of his effort to play both corporate executive and a political adviser over the last year.

Senator Clinton was "disappointed that the meeting had occurred," a senior Clinton adviser said, reiterating the candidate's opposition to the deal.

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