McCain Inner Circle Maps New Plan

Washington Post: Looking to November, Campaign of Presumed GOP Nominee Shifts Focus and Message

(WASHINGTONPOST.COM)  This story was written by Michael D. Shear.

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Five top aides to Sen. John McCain hunkered down for two days of meetings at the senator's rustic cabin south of Flagstaff, Ariz., over the weekend as they began to plot his transformation from primary-season candidate to Republican nominee.

As they ate barbecue with McCain and his wife, Cindy, the campaign's inner circle debated the dynamics of a race against either Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama, the funding necessary for victory, the political climate likely to exist six months from now, and the shape of the organization they will need to quickly assemble.

Plans call for a bigger staff, outreach to more potential donors, offices in battleground states and a revised campaign message that challenges the Democratic vision for change in Washington. Former president George H.W. Bush endorsed McCain yesterday morning, giving his campaign the seal of the first family of the Republican Party and signaling that the transition discussed in Sedona has already begun.

"The McCain campaign recognizes the inevitability of John McCain's nomination," said one of the five, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the meeting was private. "He'll be facing either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in a race that doesn't appear it's going to be settled anytime soon. Obviously, the conversation focused on the dynamics of the race against either one of them."

The elder Bush praised McCain yesterday, calling him the right person to unite Republicans and adding: "No one is better prepared to lead our nation in these trying times than Senator John McCain." But after decades in which the senator from Arizona has been more agitator than leader within the Republican Party, aides say he must find a way to live up to his reputation for independence while learning to serve as the GOP's face and chief spokesman.

"We are mindful of lessons learned" when the campaign tried last year to build a massive infrastructure fusing McCain loyalists with Bush insiders, said a top adviser who talked about the general election on the condition of anonymity. Those moves led to a midsummer campaign collapse. "I do not think you should expect we will go on a hiring binge and have a huge, wildly overstaffed campaign. You will need to create a structure that has flexibility."

McCain's strategists -- including campaign manager Rick Davis, media guru Mark McKinnon, and advisers Mark Salter, Steve Schmidt and Charlie Black -- will form the nucleus of McCain's general election campaign. But the team will have to grow to include some of the senator's rivals and critics -- of whom there are many on Capitol Hill.

"The balance of power in Washington can change very quickly," said Todd Harris, a GOP strategist who worked on McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. "We are witnessing that change now. A lot of people within the party are starting to say, 'Well, he's our maverick now.'"

For the moment, McCain is still running against former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who has vowed to stay in the race until McCain has the 1,191 delegates necessary to guarantee the party nomination. He has 903 delegates after adding 50 to his total from Michigan and Louisiana, according to a tally by the Associated Press. If all of former candidate Mitt Romney's delegates back McCain, he will be just a few short of the nomination. The reality that the race will go on is slowing his pivot toward the general election and a matchup with either Obama or Clinton. But his message has already begun to evolve.

At a stop in Wisconsin on Friday, McCain's new focus was evident as he repeatedly took aim at Obama and Clinton. He predicted that the country will hear a meaningful debate between himself and whoever becomes the Democratic nominee in the fall.

"It will be whether we want higher taxes or lower taxes, it will be whether we want bigger government or less government, it will be whether you want government running the health-care system in America or we want families to make the choices," McCain told supporters at a rally in Oshkosh.

[jerkeedoodle]

"Which way did he go,George?Which way did he go?"

[hwy71so]

McCain will lose a lot of votes due to write-ins by Conservatives.

I know I''m not voting for him. I''m not voting for him, Huckabee, Obama OR Clinton. They can all go eat liver pie as far as I care. This country is going to pot and they''re up there to help it along that path! AND, all the little lemings are following right along behind them!!!

[miningref]

This is good news for the People''s Choice for Republican nominee: Mike Huckabee.

While McCain is thinking about the Democrats, Mike is gathering great support from the voters. You should see the polls showing Mike may pull an upset over McCain.

Contrary to what the media is saying, McCain does NOT have the numbers to win, and Mike CAN win.

Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington - Vote for Mike - the True Conservative (www.mikehuckabee.com)

[homespunlady]

Yep, another PUPPET regime and the LAST vestiges of REAL DEMOCRACY should be eradicated from American soil as the WAR profiteers and Corporatist (formerly known as fascists)continue to consolidate power at the Constitutional and economic EXPENSE of all the REST of us.

McBush Lite = Bye bye Constitution.

[kissamaarse]

McCain would be a magnet for terrorism if elected. More of the same, vote McCain. How I wish there would be a 3rd party candidate this election!

[danstoned]

Let US pray for an insane McCain and Neocon Huckabee ticket from the GOP Coalition of Republicons, RINOs, Neocons, Mormons, and Used Car Salesmen. Americans will never put another war monger and an Evangelical Freak in the White House again for the rest of all of our lifetimes. ONe thing that we can always count on from Republicons is they always repeat their past, leaving themselves with absolutely no future.

[singingrick]

"I don''t care if we spend another 100 years in Iraq". John McCain

Price tag for Iraq so far, 2 trillion dollars in borrowed money.

[gkc99]

"Campaign of Presumed GOP Nominee Shifts Focus and Message"


Juan McCain has gotten so good at shape-shifting, one might have thought he''d taken lessons from a Navajo shaman.

He kisses Jerry Falwell''s ring and preaches endless war as red meat for the extremists of his own party, but when it goes national he''ll be all "don''t drill ANWR" and not a word of "bomb bomb bomb Iran".

Count on it.

[singingrick]

John McCain''s exit strategy in Iraq?

"Bomb Iran..Bomb Bomb Iran..."

[glossypan]

From John LeBoutillie: Magna *** Laude Harvard graduate, youngest member of the 97th Congress, commentator,writer,lifelong Republican, actual conservative. Comment excerpted (with no deletions) from the Gunowners Of America website
=================================================
John McCains behavior through the years tells us all we need to know: he is a spoiled brat-turned adult who demeans people who dare to disagree with him; he has an explosive temper that can erupt on a nanosecond''s notice; he is a total liar who will tell you something one day and then totally deny it the next (more on that below); he is a political chameleon who is enabled by the so-called Main Stream Media; he is also a megalomaniac whose former POW status has allowed him to get away with things -- i.e. the Keating Five Scandal -- that others would have gone to jail for.

In sum, McCain is a disaster waiting-to-happen.................
==================================================
The Democratic Party has given American voters two bright articulate liberal candidates who will make a u-turn from the disastrous Eternal War - Borrow & Spend policy of the Bush Administration.
* *
Are you conservatives proud of your party''s nominee?

[newsjunky5]

DanStoned says - "Republicons is they always repeat their past, leaving themselves with absolutely no future. "
--------------------
The future is bright now, just outside of government.
These "leaders" aren''t interested in politics beyond positioning the private sector to take any surplus or future income of the public sector.
Their work in government is completed now. The future is bright elsewhere with huge takings from no-bid contracts. Do you really think Bush sees himself as a failure to America, or "mission accomplished" based on the state of his accounts?

[cfin5]

Well, at least there''s one thing I agree with Senator McCain in owning a rustic cabin. Love to make my own someday. As soon as I can afford to buy enough mountain valley ground large enough to make my neighbors not there :(

[enoughya]

McCain is simply the absolute worst presidential candidate Republicans have selected since, well, George Bush. He is a thug that can be seen coming 200 miles away, if Americans would only open their eyes half way this time. The last thing this nation can afford is another Bush in the Oval Office.

[king77shaw]

John McCain will be the next president of the United States (of Israel) ... the elites have worked far too hard to consolidate power over the past 28 years.. they will not let go quietly ... if McCain is trailing either Obama or Clinton in the polls then look out for another 9/11 style "event" .. people would look to McCain in the wake of another false flag operation .. it will probably take the form of an attack on Iran based on false intelligence/propaganda.

[newsjunky5]

There is no doubt that McCain is being touted as a true conservative. That''s why they only show the right side of his face. (wait until the state of his health enters the picture).

[perception5]

Wouldn''t Hillary and Obama be a better fit to take over as leader of Cuba?

Afterall the Dems are more like a communist/socialist party these days anyway and they love the dicators in Cuba and Venezuela.

Where am I wrong?

[singingrick]

Where am I wrong?

Posted by perception5 at 12:30 PM : Feb 19, 2008


Where are you right?

[glossypan]

Total votes in last Tuesday''s primaries:
Barrack Obama - 1,165,728
Hillary Clinton - 652,529
John McCain - 408,638
*** *** *** *** ***
Obama bested Clinton by more votes than John McCain received.
Look for more of the same today.
I guess a Four More Years - Open Borders - Borrow and Spend - Eternal War candidate is just not very inspiring.

[afsc30574]

Sen. McCain is an experienced leader, a heart-felt speaker, and a capable politician. He has a track record of both bipartisan co-operation, and intraparty opposition: he is truely his own man. I will be proud to cast my vote for Sen. McCain.

[newsjunky5]

Wouldn''''t Hillary and Obama be a better fit to take over as leader of Cuba?
----------------------------
Yes, either could improve Cuba, but Venezuela is doing fine. They don''t really have a dictator, as he just honored a vote that went against one of his proposed policies. (Too bad he didn''t have Diebold working for him)

Not to worry though, we have Obama and Clinton to work for us. Maybe we can lend them Bush, but he''ll probably scruw their country up too.

[randynason]

Professing to be the conservative''s choice, John McCain is a predictable candidate for the GOP. On the flip side, even the right wing nut Ann Coulter says that she will vote for Hillary and not McCain. To me, that''s not much of a maverick in the winner''s seat kinda guy. Do we really want to say that there''s dementia, in ''dat ''dere White House?

[glossypan]

Thanks for bringing it up, badaxmofo.
Remember, Democrats, we must have at least 60 Senators and a large majority in the House to thwart the obstruction of majority will by a Republican minority in Comgress.
** Remember Demo activists: Register voters and work hard for a working Democratic majority in Congress. I have a county party luncheon today so this will be my last post for a while. Lets get back on the road to peace and prosperity.

[thinkharder-]

Posted by badaxmofo at 12:46 PM :

First off, I don''t know anyone I would consider relativiely liberal who would support a communist or entirely socialist agenda. Our differences are stark enough without your blatant exaggerations. Libs don''t love socialism, they like social programs. So what? is it so wrong to think that our government should provide for the good of the people? A government who''s sole function is military and figurative is not much of a government at all. Now...I don''t know any lib who supports BIG government, but we do support effective government. No one wants to take your choices away, so stop being so sensitive. We''d just like to recognize a growing inconsistency between our richest and poorest and give a few much need choices to the latter. The problem with most conservatives is they still think we live in this blissful meritocracy where all hard work is rewarded and anyone, regardless of where they came from, has an opportunity to better themselves. You have been conditioned to feel this way by your patriarchs who set it up as such. Meanwhile we have an entire working class being held down by lacking medical care, biased educating by means of warrantless heroification, "free" trade that limits their choices to either the clergy or the military, a crippled housing market...and the list goes on. You think we''re all tree hugging idealists, when the fact of the matter is clear; we just give a c r a p.

[inventagod]

So, does the ''inner circle'' consist of KARL ROVE and DlCK CHENEY???

[j-whitman]

badaxmofo,,,, Which half of McCain do you like ?? ---You never know which side he''s going to be tommorrow -

- The Goldwater pro-choice & gay marriage side or the -- Bush hate, fear & lie about what you don''t understand side ???

[byeneocons]

They only have a few months to make McCain appear to be a young conservative.

Rotsa Ruck guys!

[maedean]

Go get em Bush jr. What a clone from are great piece of Bush who is now running every country but his own.

[watcher269-2009]

OOOPssss! They just fell of the end of the WORLD!

Frick''en Republican/Christian Flat WORLD MAPS!

[byeneocons]

They should insist that all of McCain''s debates take place in the Smithsonian, where he''ll look younger.

[ponco seno]

McCain Inner Circle - avg age 85.

[jack3213]

Between the two choices- McCain & any Democrat it is clearlly evident the more experianced person WILL win- and McCain will be the rock this nation needs to get things done- for whatver or however long it takes.
Change = Confidence in a President,again, and this will be McCain.

[ponco seno]

So, does the ''''inner circle'''' consist of KARL ROVE and DlCK CHENEY???

Posted by inventagod at 01:06 PM : Feb 19, 2008



Good Point!!!! We all know Cheney will be looking out from under the covers.

[watcher269-2009]

McCain Wins - New TV series coming Soon - 90 Something!

[watcher269-2009]

McCain will be the rock this nation needs to get things done- for whatver or however long it takes.
Change = Confidence in a President,again, and this will be McCain.

Posted by jack3213

-----------------------

WOW! Bedpans, Depends and Geritol is all these guys need to Ru-i-n a Country!

[watcher269-2009]

All the Republicans are cheering McCain. These are the same folks that wouldn''t even trust their own Grandparents to drive, walk the dogs or even handle the TV remote control!

Great that''s all we need is another Alzheimer''s President - with his finger on the - wha - what was that thingy called and where is it? Button!

[heartlandjim]

It ain''t over yet, folks. Mike Huckabee is still in this thing. Vote Mike Huckabee when he comes to a state near you!

[watcher269-2009]

Posted by badaxmofo

------------

All the Liberal stuff is still better then republicans like some on this list who''s head are buried up someones sphincters to be able to breath and exist let alone think for themsleves.

I would rather have a Democrat who can look back and say something was wrong then a Repugnican who looks back and can see nothing because their leadership CAN''T REMEMBER ANYTHING - due to OLD-TIMERS DISEASE.

[watcher269-2009]

Hollary wins = the "Rosie" show turns into "Hosie"

Posted by badaxmofo

------------------

McCain Brings back All in the Family - bedpans and all!

[joyous88]

borrow and spend, endless war, republicons

''four'' more of the same vote insane mccain

[walt1944-2009]

It has been learned that "Bagdad" John McCain is already thinking of himself as having won the neocon Fascist Nazi GOP nomination for Great Emperor and is beginning to develop a stradegy of how to defeat the evil, cowardly Whimpo-crats in November.

It is rumored that "Bagdad" John first intends on improving his image by drinking a quart of Geritol every morning and reading books on finance and economics to demonstrate his mastery on those topics. To show that he, too, is a adherent to change, he intends on changing his underwear every day and making sure that his staff will do the same.
On the war on "Terrrrrrror", McCain intends to introduce further "enhanced interrogation technics" which he learned first-hand during his "stay" at the Hanoi Hilton, and use toxic FEMA trailers as WMD''s against Al Qeada. Domestically, McCain will add 5 more feet to the 10 foot fences already in place along the borders, impress boy scouts into the US(SA) Border Patrol, and will work to force the Tempe Cardinals build a better team and get to the Super Bowl!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain(?????)

[byeneocons]

I think if they just duct-tape his mouth shut and put a Reagan mask on him, he might have a shot at winning.

[byeneocons]

SHURCH4TRUTH: What is ironic about those talk show hosts is that they rarely allow an opposing view.

Must be nice to bounce around your radio studio on painkillers spouting out whatever comes to mind.

[jwind11]

Must be nice to bounce around your radio studio on painkillers spouting out whatever comes to mind.

Posted by ByeNeocons


this coming from someone who posted that bush keeps the presidency in the family and wouldnt explain how that worked? still waiting

[jwind11]

It has been learned that "Bagdad" John McCain is already thinking of himself as having won the neocon Fascist Nazi GOP nomination for Great Emperor and is beginning to develop a stradegy of how to defeat the evil, cowardly Whimpo-crats in November.

It is rumored that "Bagdad" John first intends on improving his image by drinking a quart of Geritol every morning and reading books on finance and economics to demonstrate his mastery on those topics. To show that he, too, is a adherent to change, he intends on changing his underwear every day and making sure that his staff will do the same.
On the war on "Terrrrrrror", McCain intends to introduce further "enhanced interrogation technics" which he learned first-hand during his "stay" at the Hanoi Hilton, and use toxic FEMA trailers as WMD''''s against Al Qeada. Domestically, McCain will add 5 more feet to the 10 foot fences already in place along the borders, impress boy scouts into the US(SA) Border Patrol, and will work to force the Tempe Cardinals build a better team and get to the Super Bowl!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain(?????)

Posted by walt1944

where was it learned....state your sources or you are making it up and have no credibility making you look more the idiot that you already are by ending every posts with "sig heil bush" man..how old are you?

[hungry1968]

The elder Bush praised McCain yesterday, calling him the right person to unite Republicans and adding: "No one is better prepared to lead our nation in these trying times than Senator John McCain."




If he is so sure that McCain is the right one to lead us forward, then why didn''t he say so last summer? Why did he wait until there were no other GOP candidates left?

LOL!!

[jwind11]

If he is so sure that McCain is the right one to lead us forward, then why didn''''t he say so last summer? Why did he wait until there were no other GOP candidates left?

LOL!!

Posted by hungry1968

Lol to funny

[byeneocons]

Hungry: If Bush Sr. thought that about McCain, does that mean he would have prefered McCain when he was running against his idiot son?

[papabc]

If he is so sure that McCain is the right one to lead us forward, then why didn''''''''t he say so last summer? Why did he wait until there were no other GOP candidates left?
LOL!!

Posted by hungry1968
Lol to funny
------------------------------------------------------
Posted by jwind11
--------------------------------
Same reason that others did not back Obama and Hillary last summer. All were just shopping for the right person to back or guide.

[jwind11]

A vote for McCain is a vote for 1000 more years of war. Do you have kids? You might as well kill them now and get it over with.

Posted by GladImNotOJ

how is a vote for mccain a vote for 1000 more years of war?

[jwind11]

f he is so sure that McCain is the right one to lead us forward, then why didn''''''''''''''''t he say so last summer? Why did he wait until there were no other GOP candidates left?
LOL!!

Posted by hungry1968
Lol to funny
--------------------------------------
----------------
Posted by jwind11

funny if you have the mind of 12 year old like walt (sig heil bush) what the hell is that?