Interesting move

The Obama campaign just announced a slate of new hires for the general election campaign. One name popped out at me (full list after the jump):

Chief of Staff to the Vice Presidential Nominee: Patti Solis Doyle

Patti Solis Doyle, of course, was Hillary Clinton's campaign manager until Maggie Williams took her place. At a superficial level, some people might see her appointment as a sign that Hillary will be joining the ticket.

But I actually think the opposite is true: this is as clear a sign as you'll get that Hillary Clinton won't be the VP nominee.

By choosing the VP chief of staff now, the Obama campaign is making it clear that the real power in the campaign resides at the top of the ticket. And without knowing anything in particular about the situation, I can almost guarantee you that Hillary Clinton would not accept Barack Obama making her staffing decisions.

What makes the move brilliant is that he picked a Hillary Clinton confidant for the role. It boxes her in; on the one hand, she must realize that Obama is making a clear statement about who is in charge and who will be in charge, but on the other hand, she can't complain about it because of who he picked.

Update: Ben Smith had the same read.

Update 2: HuffPo calls it a "bad omen" for HRC's VP chances and the NY Observer quotes an anonymous Clinton bundler saying it's the biggest "f*** you" ever to Clinton.

Constituency Director: Brian Bond – formerly LGBT Outreach Director at the DNC
National Field Director: Jon Carson – formerly Obama for America Voter Contact Director
Senior Advisor to the Campaign and Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama: Stephanie Cutter
Industrial States Regional Director: Paul Diogardi – formerly Political Director for the Democratic Governor’s Association.
Battleground States Director: Jen O’Malley Dillon – formerly Iowa State Director for John Edwards for President
Chief of Staff to the Vice Presidential Nominee: Patti Solis Doyle
Latino Vote Director: Temo Figueroa – formerly Obama for America National Field Director
First Americans Vote Director: Wizipan Garriott
Northeast Regtional Director: Eureka Gilkey – formerly Obama for America Deputy Political Director
50-State Voter Registration Director: Jason Green – formerly Obama for America political and field staff
Campaign Chief of Staff: Jim Messina – formerly Chief of Staff to Senator Max Baucus
LGBT Vote Director: Dave Noble – formerly of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
West Regional Director: Matt Rodriguez –.formerly Obama for America New Hampshire State Director
Senior Advisor: Michael Strautmanis
African American Vote Director: Rick Wade