Mark Z. Barabak: His nickname was ‘Satan.’ His political influence was immense

By Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times SAN FRANCISCO — Every election produces a campaign strategist whose victory bestows upon them, for at least a little while, the unofficial title of reigning political genius. James Carville, Karl Rove, David Axelrod and Stephen K. Bannon have all worn the crown. For many years, and many election cycles, California’s reigning political genius was Clint Reilly. In an age before the internet, before social media, before the cable-TV chat shows and before Carville and the like, Reilly came as close to celebrity as a political operative possibly could. He was the subject of…