What we have here, is a failure to communicate -- Insight on current status of Kerry's team

The 9-17-04 Washington Post provides what reads to me as an insider's view of the Kerry campaign. The article is entitled "New Blood At Heart Of Kerry Campaign -- Some See Changes As a Last Chance Some See Changes As a Last Chance."

Excepts to get the feel, but to see who is doing what, you must read the article:

The [recent] changes are an echo of a staff shake-up that Kerry made almost a year ago, when his campaign was floundering and beset by criticism similar to what he has faced in recent weeks.

At the same time, Tony Coelho, who was chairman of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, is pushing Kerry to trim his roster of consultants and pick one strong leader to manage the final weeks of the campaign. "There is a sense of disarray on that campaign that everyone is talking about," he said. "You have a great deal of creative talent coming in and a great deal of experience, but no leader of the campaign. And if Kerry tries to be that leader, they're in trouble."

Instead, the campaign is managed by something of a leadership-by-committee . . .

Several sources in the campaign say a turning point occurred recently, when Kerry held a conference call with Bill Clinton and several aides as the former president was preparing for open-heart surgery at a New York hospital. In the call, Clinton, who had always been wary of Shrum -- Shrum had no involvement in Clinton's winning campaigns -- was critical of Kerry's passivity in recent months, characterized by his restrained attacks on Bush during the Democratic National Convention and his slow response to the Swift boat ads. Cahill and Shrum had advocated both positions. Kerry, who sources say reveres Clinton's strategic mind, has often talked about not repeating the mistakes of Gore, whose inner circle was also dominated by Shrum and largely devoid of Clinton people.

One of the abiding truths about Kerry -- and one that is often frustrating to his aides -- is that he will listen to anyone. He is known as a political loner, but he is also constantly on the phone and will take counsel at any time from any number of parties, be it fellow senators, longtime friends, advisers in ill-defined roles such as Shrum or freelancers such as Begala. Kerry is not a micro-manager, friends say, but he is prone to engaging in a vast and drawn-out process by which his decisions are informed.

"This is what works for John," said one longtime aide who is not involved in this campaign, "and we try to be respectful of it. But it can create a greater sense of chaos than is probably necessary."