The Seduction of McCain’s Campaign
If, if John McCain picks a running mate that is moderate and doesn’t come from the Religious Right, then he will be very tough to beat no matter who the candidate is. With the exception of Bush Lite, most presidents tend to rise to a higher calling once they get elected. They campaign one way but govern a different way.
With the reminders that John McCain almost switched parties in 2001 and almost ran with John Kerry in 2004, he is viewed with suspicion by Republicans but seduced by moderate to conservative Democrats. With his maverick brand and his constant companionship with his Democrat/Independent Sancho Panza, Joe Lieberman, McCain is starting to imprint this subrosa notion that he is likely to revert to form and govern from the political middle.
If McCain picks someone from the Right, then given his age, this “edge” may be neutralized, and the Democrats would have a level playing field of sorts.
Posted: March 24th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 12
Comments
Comment from jabartlett
Time: March 24, 2008, 12:48 pm
I’m betting on Huckabee, as a sop to the religious nuts. There’s no smarter political choice for McCain to make, given his weaknesses. He shores up the base, then sends Huckabee out of sight to small Bible-belt towns and campaigns as a moderate anyhow.
Comment from Sasha
Time: March 24, 2008, 1:23 pm
How can it be anybody but Leiberman?
Comment from Nosebetter
Time: March 24, 2008, 2:51 pm
I think Pawlenty and Romney could be strong contenders. Also, I think Huckabee is out as is Crist.
Comment from Sasha
Time: March 24, 2008, 4:11 pm
What on earth makes you think John McCain will be tough to beat, regardless of his running mate? He would be the oldest nominee ever and seems older. He is a lousy speaker, isn’t quick on his feet, and wouldn’t do well in a debate. He has that horrid old-guy-drinking-coffee-with-his-friends-in-McDonald’s laugh after he tells totally unfunny jokes. He loves war, all war. The only asset I see is his wife’s former title as a rodeo queen. But the very moment she opens her mouth Hillary seems all soft and sweet.
Comment from Josh Hammond
Time: March 24, 2008, 6:02 pm
Sasha, you are partly right, BUT, McCain has all the positive first impressions working for him: maverick, independent, crusader against corruption, screwed by Bush in 2000, Straight-Talk, “right” on the surge, war hero, bi-partisan, experienced, etc.
First impressions don’t hold up all the time, but McCain has a lot of them working for him. Clinton has too many negatives and a husband called, Slick. Obama doesn’t have the weight standing next to McCain. Both will need something more than what they have shown so far.
Comment from Sasha
Time: March 24, 2008, 6:20 pm
I don’t agree that Obama doesn’t have the weight standing next to McCain. He was right on the war. He can keep his cool in the face of McCain’s famous temper. And he looks like he could stay alive for the length of the term.
Comment from How Insane Is John McCain?
Time: March 24, 2008, 11:42 pm
There’s plenty of time for McCain’s insanity to become known.
Comment from Max
Time: March 25, 2008, 12:19 am
I have to agree with Sasha here, just what attraction does McCain have? All he can say is win in Iraq. (and he is still talking about Iran) and Iraq is going even farther south. The Sunni’s are starting to fight Americans again, and the Shia are starting up. The Green Zone got rocketed, one dead, several wounded. I’ll bet they didn’t mention that on Fox, did they?
I read Juan Cole
Comment from Josh Hammond
Time: March 25, 2008, 7:17 am
McCain’s favorable ratings have shot up to 67 percent. Yes, no one is paying attention, much attention, that is. Keep in mind that only 35 percent or half of those rating him favorably are Repugs. And the rest are not all Independents.
In media terms, advertising and positioning terms, first impressions are hard to overcome. This worked for Obama and against Hillary. That was before Jeremia. McCain has always had favorable impressions, except in the Pug party. That’s all I’m saying. And to pretend otherwise is not smart or wise, as I see it.
Comment from Pat
Time: March 25, 2008, 9:10 am
There seems to be a large gap between what the voters on the right say, and what they are willing to pay for. McCain’s favorability rating may be up, but the amount of money he has raised is less than half of the amount that either Clinton or Obama have raised.
Comment from timr
Time: March 25, 2008, 9:46 am
What McCain has, that none of the others have, is the fact that the MSM, each and every bit of it, wants McCain to be prez. So they(collective) will ignore every story that does not portray st john as they want him portrayed. No bad story about him will last more than 1 news cycle, because his “friends” and supporters in the MSM will insure that it doesn’t. Bomb bomb Iran-gone, Iran training alQaeda, 4 statements over 2 days-gone, he knows nothing about the economy-gone, in bed with lobbyists(who make up most of his campaign)-gone, racist statements by him and /or his supporters-gone, his racist rev. problems-gone, stories about his volcanic temper-gone. I challenge anyone to name any story that was/is critical of st john and has lasted more than 1 news cycle in the MSM. Sure 1 or 2 newspapersa might try and stay with a story, but they will drop it when no one else in the MSM picks up on it.
Comment from JerryA
Time: March 26, 2008, 9:15 am
Pat, it doesn’t matter that Obama and Clinton have eached raised double that of McCain. Clinton and Obama are spending their bucks smearing each other, while John-Boy is just sitting there counting his Buckeroos.
Leave it to us Dems to snatch defeat from…
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