Clinton's top strategist quits

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Mark Penn, a lightning rod for controversy throughout Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, retained considerable influence in the operation almost solely because of the candidate's loyalty to him.

But his efforts on behalf of a free trade agreement with Colombia were probably the last straw for Clinton, who opposes such a deal.

Penn, Clinton's senior strategist, left the campaign on Sunday after it was disclosed he had met with representatives of the Colombian government to help promote the agreement.

"After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton Campaign," campaign manager Maggie Williams said in a statement released on Sunday.

"Mark and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates Inc will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign."

Communications director Howard Wolfson and pollster Geoff Garin will direct the campaign's message and strategic efforts for the campaign going forward, Williams said.

'Campaign strategy was not working'

Penn's departure comes as Clinton, considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination last year, trails Barack Obama in delegates and the popular vote with a must-win primary in Pennsylvania on April 22 and nine other contests remaining.

Clinton almost certainly will end the primary season narrowly behind Obama in the popular vote and pledged delegates unless the nullified primaries in Florida and Michigan are counted - a scenario that seems remote. Her challenge will be to persuade some 800 superdelegates to back her despite the numbers.

Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis, who had been a spokesperson in John Edwards's campaign, said Penn's departure was needed.

"The worst kept secret in the whole Democratic race was that Penn's campaign strategy was not working and that the Clinton campaign has unfortunately paid the price," Kofinis said. "The truth is this the best move the Clinton campaign could have made and something that I imagine most Clinton supporters wished had happened months ago."

Columbian free trade agreement

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Penn, who serves as chief executive of public relations giant Burson-Marsteller, met with Colombian officials March 31 to help craft strategy to move the Colombian free trade agreement through Congress. Penn later issued a statement apologising for the meeting, calling it an "error in judgment".

But the apology evidently wasn't sufficient. Aides said both Hillary and Bill Clinton were deeply angry upon hearing of the meeting and that Penn was quickly pushed to leave.

Penn pushed Clinton to adopt a meat-and-potatoes, issue-based campaign that stressed her "strength and experience" but managed to overlook voters' desire for fundamental political change, which rival Barack Obama was able to capture.