Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stands on stage during the National Anthem before a Democratic presidential primary debate at the University of Michigan-Flint, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Flint, Mich. (Charlie Neibergall/AP)
 

After Hillary Clinton’s surprise loss in the Michigan primary Tuesday night raised fresh questions about her appeal, her campaign manager, Robby Mook, arranged a conference call Wednesday with reporters to reveal a new strategy.

He would stun and subdue Clinton’s doubters with unflinching monotony.

Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times asked what Clinton would do to compete in the Illinois primary next week. “She is going to build on the work she did,” Mook said, “to lay out a specific plan to create more good-paying jobs.”

Politico’s Annie Karni asked whether the Michigan loss identified any vulnerabilities for Clinton against a populist opponent. “She is the only candidate that has rolled out a specific plan to create more good-paying manufacturing jobs,” Mook answered.

Chris Megerian of the Los Angeles Times asked how the loss would affect Clinton’s debate strategy. “Secretary Clinton is the only candidate who has put out a specific plan to create more good-paying manufacturing jobs,” Mook replied.

Uncle! Mercy!

But Mook wouldn’t relent.

NBC’s Alex Seitz-Wald pointed out that exit polls showed trouble for Clinton on the trade issue. “Voters are looking for their next president to create more good-paying jobs,” Mook countered.

USA Today’s Susan Page inquired about Clinton’s trouble with young voters. “Secretary Clinton,” the campaign manager said, “has been aggressively addressing . . . how we can make sure there are good-paying jobs.”

The call was now 25 minutes old. The last questioner, Amie Parnes of the Hill, asked about Clinton’s deficit among white men and blue-collar workers. “She has rolled out policies that are going to create more good-paying jobs,” Mook informed her.

It was probably the most mechanical performance by a human being since the RubioBot got stuck in an infinite loop on the GOP debate stage in New Hampshire. And the Mook Malfunction is worrying, because it underscores a certain lack of imagination in Clinton’s candidacy. She will almost certainly be the Democratic nominee, yet she doesn’t seem to have anything to say to the young people and white middle-class voters who don’t see her appeal.

Considering she won the other primary held Tuesday night (in Mississippi), the headlines Wednesday morning were murderous.