John McCain: The Comeback Kid?

(CBS)  Can a 40-year-old film change the current presidential contest?

John McCain's campaign is banking on it.

A new commercial forcefully reminds viewers of his 5 1/2 years spent in a North Vietnamese prison camp and links that past with today's most contentious issue.

"One man sacrificed for his country ... One man opposed a flawed strategy in Iraq ... One man does what's right, not what's easy," the ad says.

Nothing has been easy for McCain this year: the front-runner stumbled; his top campaign staff vanished and so did his money.

And after years of trying to turn himself from the maverick of 2000 to a consensus Republican choice, embracing one-time foe George Bush, reaching out to the religious right.

McCain finds himself forced by circumstance back to his insurgent routes, seeking a comeback in New Hampshire with a tough love message for his Republican Party.

"Why we failed is because the American people have lost trust and confidence in us -- our failure in Katrina, our failures in Iraq, and our failures to control runaway spending," he said during a debate.

And, in a not-so-veiled swipe at his rivals, he argues there is an "experience gap" when it comes to prosecuting the war in Iraq and the fight on terror.

"I have seen war. I know how the military works, I know how government works. I understand national security," he continued at the debate.

That message may be having some impact; McCain has picked up six points in the latest New Hampshire polls. But one-time Bush aide Nicole Wallace says this is a high-risk strategy.

"John McCain is dancing on the edge of a knife with this. He's saying that winning in Iraq is essential to our security at home, but the way George Bush went about it is all wrong," she said.

New Hampshire seems to be where McCain is counting on becoming the new Comeback Kid, but at least one longtime confidante says without a major investment in Iowa, he risks getting fatally swamped in those caucuses.

[socrates392]

Why is this come back geezer article still up? McCain is used up. He''s got zero chance of winning. Don''t waste any more server space on this loser.

[rayuk-2009]

Senator John McCain thought he saw an opportunity to just replace Bush and capture the GOP base. His actions with the Evangelicals did a fine job of losing the respect he had from moderates and others. His actions came accross as crude and transparent and ended any chance that he had to be prez.

[dutchfarmer]

Take a hike McCain. You''re not worthy of the presidency. Vote for consistency, honesty, and sincerity. Vote for Ron Paul.

[speakinup]

starleo146 - gee I thought you represented yourself as an independent. You did like to play the innocent lady didn''t you. You chastized me for telling j-whitman to drop dead. "oh, how rude"

Now your REAL self shows thru:

"Seem by the title of this report only the media believes he is the comeback kid, play him up media, he is a loser, and it is hard to see a man I once respected sell his soul, and lie,and become a clone to George W. Bush. Who I think played Mc Cain for his own benefit, and MC Cain fell for it hook line and sinker. - starleto

"The Media likes him, period, end of report. I think he is having flasbacks, you did Mc Cain sell out, to Falwell, Bush, and every neocon you could find, FOR VOTES - Posted by starleo146

Yeah - looks like, smells like, tastes like, feels like a far left liberal - glad I didn''t step in it.

Welcome to the liar''s club startleto !

[klifton2-2009]

McCain had his chance and he blew it! That moment when he aligned himself with Bush and the religious crazies, he has been traveling on the political highway to nowhere, which is where he is now. His is a case of he is coming and then he is gone. It is actually quite sad because he does have something to offer on his own merits but certainly not with the international loser, Bush. I guess, a man (or woman) is judged by the company he or she keeps and McCain keeps company with the devil.

[sftodd]

McCain better start sucking up more to the Christian right. He lost what respect he had from rational Americans a few years ago, and that''s not ever going to come back.

[starleo146]

Seem by the title of this report only the media believes he is the comeback kid, play him up media, he is a loser, and it is hard to see a man I once respected sell his soul, and lie,and become a clone to George W. Bush. Who I think played Mc Cain for his own benefit, and MC Cain fell for it hook line and sinker.

[starleo146]

McCain has sold his soul to the Devil (i mean Bush). How can this man claim to be the good guy in Vietnam, himself a victim of torture... and at the same time in the last year stand up and say that the current Bush policy to allow torture of detainees in Gitmo is GOOD for America.
This man has no soul. I hope he wins the GOP nomination. it will prove to the country that the GOP is out of any moral standing in this country.

Posted by fairandbal at 12:44 AM : Sep 29, 200

The Media likes him, period, end of report. I think he is having flasbacks, you did Mc Cain sell out, to Falwell, Bush, and every neocon you could find, FOR VOTES

[getloud1]

***** Stop The War & Restore America *****

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SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

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[getloud1]

***** Stop The War & Restore America *****

Why Don''''t You Know Ron Paul??????

The corporate media will not give Ron Paul any Exposure. Because, NBC is owned by GE. GE is one of the world''''s largest war-makers. They make things
that go boom. They make $Billions on war. A Ron Paul administration would be bad for business. CNN is owned by AOL. Majority share holder is Saudi Royal Talal who is also partners with GHWBush in The Carlyle Group. Another major warmaker. And on and on. You get the picture. This is why they are doing
a Media Blackout on him. Because they don''''t WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!!!

Who is Ron Paul?
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about

Join A ReVoLuTiOn Group In Your City:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/

Ron Paul Has WON 10 Straw-Polls!:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results/

RESTORE YOU LIBERTY & FREEDOM
SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT RON PAUL 2008!

_ Stop Iraq War Immediately
- Eliminate IRS
- Eliminate Federal Reserve
_ Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
_ Restore America''''s Work Force & Values
- Restore America''''s Freedom!

GET UP AND GET ACTIVE TODAY!!!