#HillaryMen: The Secret Weapon Behind Hillary's Dramatic Resurgence (HILLARY GROUP) [View all]

[DeepModem Mom]

Through the ups and downs, the highs and lows and the twists and turns of a campaign, we always return to the same accepted wisdom:

When all is said and done, it's about the candidate.

No campaign structure, no amount of money, no slick ads, no digital wizardry – and certainly, no strategists – can substitute for authentic grit, tenacity and talent when the chips are tossed on the stage and the klieg light glare hits one person and one person alone.

This is especially true in presidential races at the top of the field. Candidates may deploy the best operations money can buy, but there are make or break moments where they must stand as solitary figures and face the public, unadorned, unfiltered and unprotected. In our view, this is fair; it defines what it takes to be President of the United States.

Last spring when we planned the launch of #HillaryMen, we bet our personal and professional reputations on Hillary Clinton because of her character and her integrity. We didn’t consider whether she could raise the most money, hire the brightest team, get the biggest endorsements or run the smartest policy shop.

We focused on the thing that mattered most to us: that Hillary is a person of immense courage, conviction, fortitude and grace who can stand in the arena, absorb the often brutal onslaught, and soldier forward in the best interests of our nation. What’s more, we knew she could carry the political battle to those who would hinder the cause of realistic progressive policy.

Hillary’s personal strength is legendary. Last July we used the term “Hillary strong” to describe it. Or, as our friend Addie Stan writes in the American Prospect, "There's tough, and then there's Hillary-tough."

That toughness was on full display at the Benghazi hearings as Hillary walked alone into the arena and fought a titanic struggle against the Republican caucus in Congress, against the billionaire conservative funding network and their Rovian consultants, and against a Beltway media pack eager to see her fail.

And she won.

Not on a split decision. Not on the judges’ cards. But by inflicting a dominating, punishing, historic knockout....

http://www.hillarymen.com/latest/secret-weapon-behind-hillarys-resurgence?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork via #HillaryMen (Peter Daou and Tom Watson)