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For over a month now most political insiders have known that John McCain’s presidential campaign was over here in the state. Yesterday served as confirmation of those thoughts when McCain let go of the majority of his Iowa campaign staff.
I’m told that the cuts in Iowa were deep. Sure McCain’s Straw Poll coordinator was cut, but so was the Iowa campaign manager who just moved back to Iowa. People were also cut from the coalitions department, as well as most of the field staffers. What once was a staff of around 20-25 is now under 10.
While the campaign says they still plan to compete in Iowa and win the Iowa caucuses, the remaining people on the McCain payroll are not the type who could turn it around in Iowa for his campaign. I have not heard about any of McCain’s high paid Iowa consultants getting cut. I think it’s safe to say that Chuck Larson Jr., Ed Failor Jr., Karen Slifka, and Marlys Popma are still on the payroll, but they might only be receiving a percentage of what they were getting paid before yesterday’s cuts.
It’s over for John McCain in Iowa. This is not like John Kerry’s 2003 slump that the media seems to be talking about recently. John McCain has only one option, the same one he used in 2000; New Hampshire. The only problem with that is I don’t think the people in the Granite State like what he is selling these days either.
It’s safe to say that McCain is done in Iowa, but I think he’s just done.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:25 am
A fitting end for someone who almost killed the Bush tax cuts.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:43 am
I feel bad for McCain, I did not support him this time around but I did in 2000, because I disliked Bush then, and still do (yes, I am one of “those” republicans). But he (McCain) is an honorable, good guy and a true American hero due to his status as a vietnam VET and POW. Aside from his desire to work with both sides of the aisle, his main drawback has always been that his time was in 2000 and it has passed.
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:04 am
It is over for McCain in Iowa, but don’t call him dead everywhere just yet. The campaign has no plan to fold in the near future and there’s always the chance that Fred Thompson will cause the field to come back to McCain.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
McCain’s ship is sunk…Fred is soon to be in the race…Huckabee has a slow momentum built up…bottom line is…
if the true conservatives don’t pull together…you can say hey to rudy…and then re-open the doors at the white house for the clintons
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:13 am
KT, I also feel sorry for McCain. I would have voted for him in 2000 but by the time my state held a primary, it was all over for him. The question is whether or not he will throw his support behind Fred, who is supposed to be his friend. Is there such a thing as friendship loyalty in politics?
Retth, if the social conservatives have their way, say hello to “President Hillary.”
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:53 am
Rett h you are just a Rudy-disliker and you have it totally backwards. Anyone but Rudy would cause hillary to win..
Pisces 11 I think McCain will support Rudy – - even though he and Fred are friends, he and Rudy are closely alligned politically – - they are almost like a team…
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:54 am
[...] in early primary states. But Race 4 2008 reports that McCain’s Iowa organization has been all but wiped out: I’m told that the cuts in Iowa were deep. Sure McCain’s Straw Poll coordinator was cut, but so [...]
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:54 am
This is exactly what I hate about politics today. McCain is one of the few Senators willing to talk to anyone on the other side – even Hillary and (gasp) Kennedy – in order to get things done and that act is considered a “drawback”. There was a time when the US Senate was a place of congeniality, of compromise. Remember the stories about Reagan and Tip O’Neill being friends and meeting in the White House till all hours of the night? Anyone really think that could possibly happen in 2007? You can disagree with McCain for his votes on immigration and tax cuts. Those are legitimate reasons to vote for a different candidate. Personally I think McCain-Feingold is what ultimately did him in. But I think it’s a very sad commentary on American politics when McCain is criticized for simply talking to the opposition. When the GOP ran Congress, very little got done because neither side would even speak to the other. It’s even worse now with Pelosi and company in charge, and Congress’s 14% approval rating bears this out. At what point do the diehards on either side accept that there are TWO parties in Congress? McCain is part of a dying breed in our political system. That’s why I feel sorry for him. I voted for him in 2000, and would be happy to again this year. I may not agree with everything he’s done, but he’s one of the few willing to do more than just talk a good game. Too bad for him that’s now a drawback.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:13 am
jake,
It was never the fact that McCain talked to the opposition that bothered me. It was the fact that he agreed with them.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 am
I think he developed that habit (talking to dems) because that was his way of being the rebel that he is and getting back at Bush. I dont care, I still like him.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:48 am
Jake, McCain did more than talk. Honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t choose to run as an Independent and maybe he will still do that. He just gave off the general impression that he is kind of nutty and would much rather be a Democrat. The immigration fiasco was the icing on the cake. I would have trouble supporting him because I am never quite sure what he will do about any issue. Don’t forget this is the same man that had all that speculation about his being Kerry’s running mate. Honestly, this is what happens when social conservatives vote on that issue alone. They don’t care about the rest of the candidate’s platform and I find that narrow minded and frightening for our country.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:50 am
Pisces11,
Are you implying that single-issue social conservatives are fond of McCain?
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:53 am
Hold it Pisces. Don’t go lying and blaming McCain on social conservatives. He’s lashed out at us before. Besides social conservatives are overwhelmingly against Campaign Finance Reform and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
I certainly care about the rest of a candidates platform. It’s how I distinguish between the good candidates (candidates who are pro-life).
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:57 am
Murphy, I think a lot of them are based on his gun stance or his abortion stance or the fact that he is a genuine war hero. At least we know where McCain stands on things because he is very honest. I have always liked John McCain and admired him but I think something happened to him when he was a prisoner of war and that might account for his strange behavior at times.
Murphy, I also think that lots of voters (maybe the majority) are single issue voters. People want to know what’s in it for them. That’s why young professional women are supporting Hillary and Blacks are supporting Obama.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:58 am
chill out econ have an herbal tea
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Pisces11 and KT disagree with one another over whether McCain would support Rudy or Fred.
I disagree with BOTH their positions (#5 and #6).
Pisces11, McCain’s good friend Fred just stabbed him in the back by running, and McCain is PISSED about that. That turns the friend argument on its head.
KT, McCain and Rudy are NOT closely aligned almost like a team. Are you kidding? Most Rudy supporters hate McCain! McCain has compromised on tax cuts and the economic conservative agenda OVER AND OVER. Rudy is running the farthest right supply-side economic agenda in modern history. Rudy rejected supporting his friend, McCain in 2000, endorsing George W Bush in the primaries.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Pisces11,
Some of McCain’s strongest opposition comes from social conservatives who disagree with him on CFR, embryonic stem cell research, gay marriage, Gang14 judges, and the characterization of religious voters as “agents of intollerance”. McCain has long decried the influence of people of faith in politics. Though he often votes the right way, he is no leader on social issues. His heart is not with our cause, and he doesn’t even like us.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I was just wondering will we get advance notice fron CNN FOXNEWS ECT. before had so we can watch Fred’s announcement or do you thing the networks won’t cover the live announcement? By the way went to draft fred thompson.com and it says watch for offical announcement very soon. my guess is tommrow on 4th of july.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
murphy is entirely correct in #17. McCain has made enemies of the two main parts of the GOP.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Greg: People close to the Thompson campaign, such as Tommy, have assured us he will not announce on the 4th due to respect for the holiday.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I think the 5th is the likeliest date.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
It will be interesting to see if McCain hooks up with Mayor Bloomberg for a McCain/Bloomberg ticket in the general. I don’t know how this would affect the race.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:29 pm
is newt getting in this thing too?
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Time to scuttle the ship as the “McCain Mutiny” is in full bloom. His Iowa operations were vastly overrated to begin with & now he’s imploded. Good riddance!
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
David B I am only referring to the extremely cordial and OPEN friendship they have with each other. I dont think McCain holds Rudy’s endoresemtn of Bush against him. That was 2000, and this is 2007…. in politics, as in love, time heals all wounds. My gut feeling is still that they support, if not coddle, one another.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Maybe based on friendship, but certainly not politics. Every economic conservative I know loves Rudy and considers McCain their worst enemy in Congress.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Greg,
Newt will decide late in the year. He said he will wait to see how Thompson’s campaign pans out.
July 3rd, 2007 at 2:15 pm
KT/ David B:
If I could just add my 2 cents regarding Rudy’s endorsement of Bush in 2000, it should be noted that while Rudy did endorse Bush he also bucked the NY political establishment’s attempt to keep McCain off the ballot. Rudy felt that, regardless of his preference of Bush, it was up to the voters of NY to decide who to nominate, not Pataki and D’Amato. Rudy’s support for a more open primary process in New York at least gave McCain a fighting chance there.
Personally, I could see McCain backing Rudy. McCain does tend to hold grudges, and
I suspect he’s nursing one where Fred Thompson is concerned right now. And the McCain/ Romney feud seems to have become pretty personal, to the point that McCain would probably make an endorsement to stop Romney from getting the nomination. So if he wants to stop Romney and isn’t in the mood for helping out Thompson, Rudy would be his only logical alternative.
July 3rd, 2007 at 2:41 pm
McCain ain’t backing anybody if he’s done. Everyone is kidding themselves. If he quits, he will be quitting one bitter old man.
July 3rd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
[...] RINO “maverick” McCain is floundering. His campaign is flopping around like a dying fish. Buh bye, [...]
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I am hearing a still unsubstantiated rumor that I must admit I am a little skeptical of that John McCain is getting ready to shake up his campaign team by firing John Weaver and bringing Ed Rollins on board.
July 3rd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
if mccain fires weaver and hires ed rollins that would be an excellent move. Weaver has been a complete disaster for mccain. This whole “inevitability” idea was weaver’s. While you are at it John fire Mike Dennehy and Jim Barnett in New Hampshire. no sense doing anythign half assed.
July 3rd, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I agree with Tommy (#29). McCain might be a ‘man of integrity’ (by which I mean that he holds to unpopular positions), but if he quits a race which he believed was his right for 7 years then he will not be a happy chappie.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see him rail against Politics in general, pointing out the flaws of everyone & how its not fair that partisan bickering has sunk his ship, etc, etc.
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
First, I do not think McCain will ever end his campaign, even when he is the only person in his campaign headquarter keeping his chair warm. He won’t endore anyone because he won’t admit defeat.
If it turns out that I am wrong, then there are quite a few senators in the race that he has a long relationship. He could endore any one of them. If I must pick one, I think Brownback has the platform most similar to McCain (both are pro-amensty and pro-life, among others), but I may be wrong. Oh wait, Brownback is not pro-war-in-Iraq. Umm… It oculd be anyone…
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Pisces11, I thought I saw a polls showing that Hillary and Obama have roughly the same percentage of African-Americans.