The Trouble with Tony

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As he has moved to take over Democratic Party machinery for the general-election campaign, Coelho has wounded more than a few egos. Among those, several sources say, is that of Democratic National Committee chairman Ed Rendell. Coelho has demanded changes in virtually every aspect of the DNC operation, from the souvenir pens it gives to donors (too expensive) to its travel budget (too lavish) to its fund raising (not enough). Rendell, a former Philadelphia mayor not exactly known as a softie, denies any serious friction. Still, he notes of Coelho, "occasionally he does things with a bulldozer when all he needed was a little charm." Coelho has also taken charge of planning for the Democrats' August convention--putting himself, his detractors say, in the position of dispensing favors ranging from desirable hotel rooms to coveted floor credentials. "He loves to put the chits in his pocket," says an official who has worked on the convention, which will be held in Los Angeles.

That may be because in this election, Coelho's future is on the line as well as Gore's. "It's about redemption," says a longtime political associate. That will only come if Gore gets to the White House. Right now, campaign officials say they are framing broad themes and specific issues to ensure that a President-elect Gore will put his hand on the Bible on Jan. 20--and that Coelho will be in the VIP seats nearby. But an insider echoes a common frustration inside the Gore campaign: "People want to know when are we going to get to the part where we're winning."