A Present for McCain as the Other Side Fights

[Barack_America]

A Present for McCain as the Other Side Fights

By JOHN HARWOOD
Published: March 24, 2008

Feuding Democrats have handed Senator John McCain the gift of time. How well he uses it may determine his chance to beat them in November.

At the moment, Republicans can savor protracted warfare between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. As the Democratic rivals trade attacks, Mr. McCain, already the presumptive Republican nominee, has crept ahead of both in national polls.

Yet Mr. McCain’s advisers recognize their long-term challenges in a remarkably threatening political environment. Voters remain weary of the Iraq war, worried about the economy and disenchanted with the lame-duck Republican president.

The Democratic fight is largely personal. But Mr. McCain, of Arizona, faces ideological strains as he leads Republicans beyond the Bush era. Meantime, Democrats have expanded their base, and they have the turnout figures and campaign cash to prove it.

“All of the energy has been on the Democrat side,” conceded Rick Davis, the McCain campaign manager. “That’s a hurdle for us.”

snip

Democratic operatives have prepared a sustained attack against what they call myths underlying Mr. McCain’s reputation for straight talk. “It’s going to take a while to tear that down,” said Jim Jordan, a consultant who will spearhead a Democratic Party advertising campaign to aid its nominee. Lamenting the Clinton-Obama fight, Mr. Jordan added, “That’s why it would be nice to get this over with as soon as possible.”

For now, Mr. Obama faces continued fallout from the controversy over his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. And Mrs. Clinton continues to fend off Mr. Obama’s attacks on her integrity. If that has not made Mr. McCain the fall favorite, it has left him in a far better position than a month ago.

“Everything about the playing field still tilts against us,” said Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster. “But the slope is not as steep. As a Republican, things have started to look a little brighter.”

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/us/politics/24caucus.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Please feel free to post additional excerpts from this article. There's lots of good stuff in this one.

Let's keep this kicked and remember who the *real* enemy is.

[Pirate Smile]

1. NYT plans to give him a kick in the teeth tomorrow - "2 Divergent McCain Moments, Rarely Mentioned "

2 Divergent McCain Moments, Rarely Mentioned



WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain never fails to call himself a conservative Republican as he campaigns as his party’s presumptive presidential nominee. He often adds that he was a “foot soldier” in the Reagan revolution and that he believes in the bedrock conservative principles of small government, low taxes and the rights of the unborn.

What Mr. McCain almost never mentions are two extraordinary moments in his political past that are at odds with the candidate of the present: His discussions in 2001 with Democrats about leaving the Republican Party, and his conversations in 2004 with Senator John Kerry about becoming Mr. Kerry’s running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

There are wildly divergent versions of both episodes, depending on whether Democrats or Mr. McCain and his advisers are telling the story. The Democrats, including Mr. Kerry, say that not only did Mr. McCain express interest but that it was his camp that initially reached out to them. Mr. McCain and his aides counter that in both cases the Democrats were the suitors and Mr. McCain the unwilling bride.

Either way, the episodes shed light on a bitter period in Mr. McCain’s life after the 2000 presidential election, when he was, at least in policy terms, drifting away from his own party. They also offer a glimpse into his psychological makeup and the difficulties in putting a label on his political ideology over many years in the Senate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/us/politics/24mccain.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all

[Barack_America]

2. Well, that's a start.

Unfortunately, this article just might increase his appeal to Independents. Bipartisan stuff and all.

But at least the NYT seems to be willing to focus on the true enemy.

[Barack_America]

3. No one cares about McCain?

And how this infighting is only helping him?

Really?

Interesting.

[Barack_America]

4. One last kick.

:hi:

[JimGinPA]

5. The Good News Is While He Was Overseas Trying To Look Presidential...

He had one blunder after another. He looked like a buffoon.


K&R

[Barack_America]

6. That is indeed good news. Too bad that the media didn't focus on it more.

Being too busy with the Dem infighting and all... :eyes:

Hey! Tomorrow's the big day for us! Are you looking forward to voter reg being over as much as I am? I never want to see another one of those forms in my life! ;)

[JimGinPA]

7. LOL - Actually, I Wish They Could Switch Right Up Until The Primary...

I want Obama to be able to narrow the gap even more, possibly even win the state and end this madness.


:applause: