What's Next For John McCain?

(CBS/AP)  GOP presidential hopeful John McCain faces the formidable task of rebuilding his sputtering campaign following the forced resignation of two top aides.

McCain's campaign manager and top adviser, along with two other top aides, left the Arizona senator's campaign on Tuesday, one week after reporting second-quarter fundraising that came in far below expectations.

At the very moment McCain was laying out his case for perseverance in Iraq, reports CBS News political correspondent Jeff Greenfield, two top campaign aides, manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver, announced they were leaving the campaign immediately, a result of staff tensions fueled by campaign cash woes.

One official said Nelson resigned as campaign manager for the Republican presidential candidate and Weaver stepped down from his post of chief strategist.

Following the two out the door were political director Rob Jesmer and deputy campaign manager Reed Galen, officials said.

Nelson had previously worked for President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign while Weaver has been a longtime friend and adviser to the Arizona senator.

McCain hired Nelson more than a year ago to start laying the foundation for the senator's long-expected second presidential run. Weaver has been with McCain for at least 10 years.

Rick Davis, a longtime aide to McCain, will take over the campaign. One McCain aide told CBS News that Mark Salter, a longtime adviser known as McCain's alter-ego after helping the senator write several books, was staying with the campaign on a pro bono basis.

McCain must now convince campaign donors that he remains a serious contender for the GOP nomination and fashion a strategy that will enable him to climb out of a deep political hole created by his stance on two key issues: Iraq and immigration.

McCain's strong support for President Bush's position on both matters has spelled trouble for the one-time GOP maverick. McCain continues to back a strong U.S. presence in Iraq at the very time voters wanted the troops brought home. And his support for Bush's sweeping immigration reform legislation has proved extremely unpopular with the GOP's bedrock conservative voters.

Some political observers believe McCain needs to skillfully back away from his position on both issues if he is to remain a viable candidate for the White House.

As word of the staff changes became public, McCain was on the Senate floor defending the troop buildup in Iraq and contending that reinforcements had only just been put in place. He made his sixth trip to Iraq last week.

"Make no mistake. Violence in Baghdad remains at unacceptably high levels," but the United States and Iraq seem to be "moving in the right direction," McCain said. "The progress our military has made should encourage us."

At the Capitol, McCain said he would "of course" remain in the presidential race, and disputed the idea that the staff changes marked a major shakeup that reflects his campaign's recent troubles.

"People are free to make their own assessments. I think we're doing fine," McCain said. "I'm very happy with the campaign the way it is."

The shakeup is only the latest change made to boost McCain's presidential hopes, which have fallen precipitously since early this year, when he was seen as the Republican front-runner and the choice of the party's establishment.

Since then, he has reported lackluster fundraising in two consecutive quarters and seen his poll numbers fall, both nationally and in key early-voting states, especially after McCain stuck by a failed immigration bill that incensed much of the conservative Republican voting base.

Last week, Nelson announced he would decline a salary to help the campaign save money after reporting that it had raised $11.2 million in the second quarter of 2007, placing him behind both Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. McCain also reporting having only $2 million on hand. The announcment was followed by cutbacks in staff salaries and layoffs throughout McCain's organization.

The campaign is still considering accepting federal matching funds for the campaign, even though that would subject McCain to spending restrictions that would not apply to his opponents.

Earlier this year, McCain said he would not compete in this August's straw poll in Ames, Iowa, which is usually seen as a key barometer of who is leading the Republican field. Romney is the only top-tier Republican candidate committed to the poll.

McCain's woes come as former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee is about to enter the race. Thompson is expected to strongly compete for the support of the conservative voters McCain and Romney have been courting.

[tucano2]

Perhaps Mr McCain will move to Los Angeles and become the Mayor after current Mayor Tony (oops, I dropped my pants again) Villar returns to Mexico with the current, or some other, bimbo he's hot for. After all Mr. McCain thinks illegals ought to be granted legal status and all the benefits of USA citizenship without having to wait in line, and condones criminal activities such as invading the country. L.A. might be perfect for McCain as L.A. still harbors criminals in catholic churches, and refuses to cooperate with ICE by cowardly hiding behind "special order 40" which gives illegal aliens even more "rights" than USA citizens have.

[gunownerdan]

John who? Ron Paul is the man!
ronpaul2008.com

[tejasdemo]

Who cares

[hypnotoad72]

Why couldn't this article be pithy? As we all know, Americans hate to have to read through clarifying details meant to prevent spin and deception.

Everybody knows McCain lost favor a long time ago. He ought to give his remaining funds to a candidate of his choice (preferably not Clinton) or at least put it toward the National Debt.

But I'm not a politician, so what would I know. :-)

[jvman4u]

I'm looking forward to reading his OBITUARY he's dead politically, so why hang around, LO What a big time loser and oppertunist, he's nothing but an older version of bush jr. NEXT!

[forthepeopl1]

I HOPE EVERY AMERICAN AND ALL OUR ELECTED ARE GOING TO READ THIS, AND SEE THAT THIS ADMINASTRATION JUST KEEPS LAUGHING IN OUR FACES.WHILE THOUSANDS OF OUR TROOPS STILL DIE.
Last December, when Bush rebuffed a bipartisan exit strategy presented by the Iraq Study Group, he said he would leave the decision to withdraw from Iraq to his successor.

That question is "not going to face this government," Bush said, chuckling slightly at a news conference with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "because we made up our mind. We've made that part clear. It'll face future governments. There will be future opportunities for people to say, 'Well, it's not worth it. Let's just retreat.' "

Since then, nearly 700 more American soldiers have died in a war that has now lasted more than four years, lost the lives of more than 3,600 U.S. troops, cost $10 billion a month -- and cost Republicans control of the House and Senate.

[hawksprings]

I always thought McCain should team up with Howard Dean. They'd make a great Scream Team.

...

[drummer94]

infidel_us- I hope he is a republican in name only (RINO). Makes him that much closer to joining the right side of the aisle. Since he has gotten rid of two of his strategists, who I'm sure were telling him to toe the gopher line, maybe he is rethinking his position on lotsa things. If he does it right, and does become a democrat, not a DINO, Hill and Barack will have a run for their money. The repubs do not have a snowballs chance this election.

[wiccantexan]

I'm in agreement with many posters here. I used to respect McCain for his "maverick" approach. He wasn't afraid to make a stand. Now, it seems he's sold out for votes. It's a real shame.

[pared1]

What's Next For John McCain?

He should go away! FAR away.

Maybe he could do voice overs for deputy dawg. *lol*