The Candidates
McCain’s going to outchange the candidate of change? Please… What next? McCainiacs screaming “Yes we can” at the top of their lungs? John McCain… HOPE???
Bad idea…
From the AP:
McCain to try to claim mantle of change
By LIZ SIDOTI – 17 hours agoWASHINGTON (AP) — With voters sour on the status quo, Republican John McCain plans to spend the next five months arguing that he has a history of fighting to reform government and that Democrat Barack Obama talks of change with nothing to show for it.
“I have a record of doing that, not a rhetoric of doing that,” McCain told an audience last week, claiming he long has taken a bipartisan approach to fixing the country’s ills while suggesting that Obama simply offers empty promises of working across party lines.
The four-term Arizona senator was forecasting his overarching general election theme against the fresh-faced first-term Illinois senator.
All the Democrats’ would have to do to counter this message is point out the fact that McCain has been in Washington for the last thirty years. Republican activists might be able to see right through it, but voters won’t.
McCain is going to have to come up with something original, not a recycled primary theme. He needs something that will inspire people. I’m all changed out.
It’s almost like he’s already on the defensive from the democrats who are saying that he’s a 3rd Bush term.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Tommy, I typically tend to agree with you on most of your analyses, but I’m not sure I do this time. McCain will never convince the dedicated liberals, but I think a lot of people in the middle will recognize (admittedly once they’ve had their attention drawn to it) that McCain DOES have a clear record of reform, and Obama, for all his rhetoric, has just that: rhetoric.
To say McCain is not coming up with something original is not correct. Reform has been his platform for the last ten years he’s really been a national figure.
What he does need to do, is draw a distinction between “good change” (i.e., his) versus “bad change” (i.e. Obama’s).
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Actually, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Obama has used “change” as his mantra during the primary, and it would be wise for McCain to point out what kind of “change” Obama has been fighting for throughout his political career. Obama has left the term undefined, and for McCain to go ahead and define it for him is not a bad idea. McCain has enough “experience” to contend that he’s seen both good and bad “change” over the course of his long life, and it can’t hurt to point out that Obama wants to “change” back to the unsuccessful policies of the Carter administration.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Tommy,
I disagree. But McCain co-opting “change” and telling us HOW he’ll change things it forces Obama to produce a more substantial narrative of how he plans to “change”.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Called it, by the way.
http://race42008.com/2008/05/28/mccain-needs-a-theme/#comments
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Good points. I shall wait and see what transpires. Pointing out the idea of Barack’s type of change is good, but if he’s trying to outchange Barack, then that’s an iffy prop.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Tommy #5: I think that’s the heart of the matter right there. I agree completely that McCain cannot and should not attempt to “out-change” Obama. As you point out, that will meet with disaster. But if he sticks to the types of change, and why these changes are necessary, I believe he will be able to beat Obama to death with his “change” schtick.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
You’re wrong, Tommy… the cry will be “reform,” not “change.” Reform respects our institutions and tries to make them work for the people. Change is dismantling them. I like thgis move.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
McCain’s going to run as a black candidate also…
Didn’t you know he’s 1/32 black. His family were slave owning Southerners. According to the one drop rule McCain and Obama are both black.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
McCain has been saying for a while he has the record of bipartisanship that Obama only talks about. I think its a pretty good retort.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
A recent nation-wide poll showed that McCain and Obama were tied on who is the candidate of change. Why would McCain give that up?
We also have evidence that this worked in the past. In 2000, when McCain was running on a reform agenda, the Bush team came up with a slogan that said; “A Reformer with Results”, and it did have success.
Let us all be honest, Presidential campaigns have almost nothing to do with issues, and almost all to do with personality. Congressional elections have to do with issues. That is why there is a difference in GOP vrs. Democratic polling, and McCain vrs. Democratic nominee polling.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
One more thing: many may not remember it, but Mitt Romney spent a lot of time talking about “change” during the primaries as well. In one of the debates, McCain had a very effective line when he agreed that Mitt was, in fact, “the candidate of change”, prodding him for his habit of altering his stances on issues important to social conservatives. Obama’s going to have to do the same thing this year, adjusting his more radical views to appeal to the center, but on a compressed timescale. Don’t be surprised if McCain uses that line of attack again on his new opponent.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W8Vb6ZqffI
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I find this good strategy. 8 years ago, McCain ran as a “reformer” which he was. Bush one-upped McCain by running as a “reformer with results” which he wasn’t. Bush won. This time around Obama has no results.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
#9 correct. In 1976 Ford went around the country questioning Carters abilities and readiness to lead. In the face of watergate this was the Ford strategy.
In fact this almost worked. In less than 3 months, Carter went from being ahead by 33% to winning by 2%. Carter’s final % was 50.1%. he was the only Democratic candiate to breka the 50% mark since Johnson. If the election had been held at the end of November, Ford would have achieved victory.
Carter only won Ohio by 0.27%.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
McCain should run on experience and a record of actually getting things done.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Big S,
That’s exactly what I was thinking about. It’s Romney’s campaign slogan.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Kristopher,
You may be right. However, McCain really doesn’t want to get into a personality contest with Obama. That would be nuts. Not to disrespect him in this regard, but McCain doesn’t exactly come across as Mr. Congeniality.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
All this means nothing, one way or the other, unless McCain does the one thing to cement his victory, which simply is, proceed to select Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Unless McCain does that, everything else will amount to a “hill of beans”.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
In other words, that one act, selecting Palin, SAYS IT ALL!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Ted, you’re just infatuated. Her resume is incredibly slim. She was mayor of a town of 8,000, two years ago.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Metro, OK, have it your way. Go to Drudge right now SEE SIREN ON TOP.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
It may already be too late, but, I’ll repeat my advice (which I gave over and over again) starting almost two weeks ago:
“Here’s an important piece of advice: If it looks like it’s going to be McCain/Palin anyway (and that should be a “no brainer” for Team McCain), McCain should announce NOW or VERY SOON, rather than later towards the convention. There’s currently a growing chorus for Obama/Hillary (as VP) ticket (in fact the Dems are likely aware of the Palin phenomenon). If the GOP waits while movement for Hillary as VP grows — even worse until after it is solidified that Hillary will/could be VP pick — selecting Palin will be portrayed by Dems/liberal media more as a reaction by GOP selecting its own female (overshawdoing Palin’s own remarkable assets), rather than McCain taking the lead on this. Selecting Palin now or early (contrary to the punditocracy) will mean McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. And, there’s absoultely no down-side to this because even if Hillary is a no-go as VP for Obama, the GOP gains by acting early. McCain the maverick. Palin the maverick. Do it now!
There’s no reason, and actually substantial negative, in McCain waiting to see what the Dems do first insofar as his picking Palin as VP, because, no matter who Obama picks, Palin is by far (and I mean far) the best pick for McCain and the GOP, especially in this time of GOP woes. The GOP can be seen as the party of real ‘change’ (albeit I hate that mantra, change, change, bla bla), while not really having to change from GOP core conservative values, which Palin more than represents.
In light of the current oil/energy situation, as well as the disaffected female Hillary voters situation, and growing focus on McCain’s age and health, Palin is more than perfect — now.
(Perhaps Team McCain is already on to this.)”
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Ted, if Hillary’s the running mate, that makes Palin pale by comparison. A woman running mate is great for McCain if Obama chooses a man.
And I think Meg Whitman has the resume that Palin does not. Though I don’t think Palin would be a bad choice.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Speaking of bad ideas, it appears Sen Clinton is saying she’s willing to be Sen Obama’s VP.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Ughh… this kind of petty amatuerism makes him look like Bob Dole … exactly what he needs to avoid!!
******* NEWS ALERT ******* THIS JUST IN:
Hillary says she will accept the VP nod from Obama. If this happens, IT IS OVER. Start working 2016, folks!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
#17, yes that is what I have always thought, but now I am not sure. Obama is charismatic, but I have a feeling that biography may be more important to many voters. It just does not make sense that they are tied in the polls today, when 4 years ago Kerry was ahead by double digits.
I keep watching the McCain New Mexico TV ad of McCain laying on his death bed in a body cast with a cigarette being asked questions by the East German reporter, and I am not sure if Obama has an equally powerful narrative to introduce himself. That is McCain’s wild card.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
MetroRepublican,
I am not sure how Meg helps McCain, although I like your out of the box suggestion. Honestly, Fiorina would be chosen ahead of Whitman, because Fiorina is at least battle tested as a non-politician,a dn if you have ever seen Fiorina make a sales presentation, she is amazing. Even her enemies in Silicon valley admit she has a gift of communication and selling.
Interested though, last week Bob Dole commented that McCain should select a non-politician, so maybe you are on to something.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Poor Obama, Clinton can actually force Obama to select her. He will not win without her endorsement. But with our luck, he might just be arrogant enough to reject her, which may result in a luke-warm endorsement.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Bob, Carly Fiorina has too much baggage from her corporate scandals, the LAST thing the GOP needs right now. Meg has none, plus she’s a noted pro-lifer.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
#27, does her sales ability include almost losing the HP-Compaq proxy fight. Remember it was only 51-49, and she staked her whole reputation on it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
So heres a good question now, if Obama picks Clinton for his VP, would it then be a bad idea for McCain to pick Sarah Palin as his VP?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I suggest we pick Brett Farve as VP. We’d easily win Wisconsin. You’d be a disloyal cheesehead to vote against Farve.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
#29 and #30, what scandal? Fiorina is a hero now because she ended up being correct, plus the scandals came after she left, it was the next HP CEO that was spying. Remember, she told the HP board at the time, the merger will make us the #1 PC manufacturer in the world, she was correct. I could live with Meg though. Also remember, Carly’s book hit #1 and she remains a hero with the same women that support Clinton. A lot of women read her book and empathized with Fiorina regarding all the stories of sexism.
If Obama selects Clinton, McCain should select Gingrich, then we can make the election about Clinton-Gingrich. It would be messy, but a lot of fun. If Clinton is selected McCain needs to get the Conservatives out large. Imagine what the VP debate would look like!
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
#31 - Palin looked very impressive last night on CNN. Last night sold me more. McCain should not select Palin because she is a woman, he should select Palin because she is a hard-right populist. Any Governor who has the guts to file a lawsuit against the President of the United States, who happens to be the leader of her own party, on an issue that voters are angry about (energy costs and development), tells me something about her appeal to Reagan Democrats.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
While I’ve been one who’s supported Palin, along with a number of other women for VP, if Obama selects Clinton as VP, none of them make any sense.
Even if McCain were to pick a woman VP first and Obama followed with Clinton, her support among women would be strong enough to counteract any choice McCain might make.
Where a woman VP really helps is if Obama chooses some guy like Richardson, Webb, Kaine, Biden, Clark, etc…
The key lies in Obama totally disavowing Clinton’s supporters by going with a guy for VP and opening up a huge hole for McCain to drive right through.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
If Obama does pick Clinton, I think we’re pretty much screwed no matter who McCain picks and no potential VPs with a future would want to be saddled with the loss that is virtually sure to come.
That’s why I think McCain at that point would be best going with some “all-american” VP of senior status who really makes this about heroism and hopefully victory in Iraq and plays on the unease of a ticket with a black guy and a woman on it.
I think a Colin Powell type would be McCain’s best bet.
And even if they lose, at least no future prospects are tainted with defeat.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
“I think a Colin Powell type would be McCain’s best bet. ”
A pro-choicer who thinks that the war is unwinable? no thanks.
—
As for McCain trying to pull some of the “Change” vote - he needs something to excite crowds. McCain has no ideological base, being too liberal for Conservatives and too Conservative for liberals. Moderates, by their nature, do not get excited about a particular candidate. McCain isn’t proposing some new agenda like Reagan did for people to get excited about, he doesn’t bring youth or vigor the way Clinton or Kennedy did, and on the issues where Bush is actually unpopular, like the war, is where McCain agrees with him the most.
I think Republicans wasted a chance to give the party a direction for the future.
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
While I’ve been one who’s supported Palin, along with a number of other women for VP, if Obama selects Clinton as VP, none of them make any sense.
This comment, and others like it, show the incredible silliness of selecting a GOP running-mate based on gender. Most voters will see through gimmicks, and most of them will vote for the candidate that best reflects their own priorities and values. Remember, liberals and many moderates have values too, and will not vote for someone like Palin if they find her policy positions repugnant. Most will find her offensive, due to her down-the-line social conservative record.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:38 am
It isn’t a bad idea. He HAS to emphasize change (though he should keep the experience part, too). Hillary Clinton’s failure to emphasize change early enough in the campaign is part of what cost her the nomination.
I think McCain is seen as enough of a maverick that the “Washington insider” label won’t stick. It didn’t in the primary, and I don’t see general election voters viewing him with more scepticism than the primary voters did. It’s just a tough year. He’s got the qualities to win; it’s a question of whether those qualities will overcome the inherent disadvantage of being the republican candidate this cycle.