Hillary and Hostages

Certainly the hostage situation at the Hillary campaign headquarters in Rochester, New Hampshire is an unfortunate turn of events - one which everyone should hope ends safely. But it's also a rare chance to see how candidates respond to emergency situations. Two data points: The gunman is a local with a history of mental health problems - in other words, a loner, in all likelihood - and the Hillary campaign has apparently decided to close all of it's offices in Iowa.

There is a political value that will be attached to the proceedings, fairly or unfairly. But the folks on HRC's staff would be well advised not to over-manage the situation, or attempt to use it as leverage. Certainly they must be aware of this - or the downside of being caught doing so - but they have been so hyper-reactionary that it's easy to imagine they might blow it.

Events developing in real-time ...