Strategist Unlikely To Join McCain Campaign
The speculation over whether Mike Murphy, a veteran GOP strategist and close adviser/friend to John McCain, will be joining the campaign anytime soon looks to be coming to an end. CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports that Murphy is eager to put the rumors to rest.
“Though Murphy has told associates that McCain asked him to come aboard ten days ago, he has come to believe that the press speculation about his arrival has become a maelstrom of insanity and is damaging McCain,” Ambinder writes. “By the end of the day, it will be clear, said two people directly familiar with the situation, that Murphy will not be joining the campaign. Instead, he is on the verge of signing a consulting contract with NBC News, a source said. (Murphy would not confirm the television deal.)”
And Murphy tells the New York Times, “I’m not expecting to join the campaign. … I’m trying to kill and end all this stuff,” he said. “I think this staff speculation is not helpful to the campaign. … I don’t want to be controversial and I don’t want to be distracting from the senator’s message.”
“Though Murphy has told associates that McCain asked him to come aboard ten days ago, he has come to believe that the press speculation about his arrival has become a maelstrom of insanity and is damaging McCain,” Ambinder writes. “By the end of the day, it will be clear, said two people directly familiar with the situation, that Murphy will not be joining the campaign. Instead, he is on the verge of signing a consulting contract with NBC News, a source said. (Murphy would not confirm the television deal.)”
And Murphy tells the New York Times, “I’m not expecting to join the campaign. … I’m trying to kill and end all this stuff,” he said. “I think this staff speculation is not helpful to the campaign. … I don’t want to be controversial and I don’t want to be distracting from the senator’s message.”
