Dem. Governors See McCain As Formidable

Washington Post: Democratic Governors Say Life Story, Reputation For Political Independence Make McCain A Threat In November

(WASHINGTONPOST.COM)  This story was written by Dan Balz.

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Democratic governors from states likely to help decide the 2008 presidential election see Republican Sen. John McCain as a potentially formidable opponent whose life story and reputation for political independence make him a threat in November, despite conditions that they say now favor their nominee.

"To quote President Bush, McCain is never to be misunderestimated," said Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, McCain's home state. "He's a tough campaigner."

"In some ways," said Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, a state that is considered a must-win for any Democratic nominee, "he's the ideal [Republican] candidate for Pennsylvania."

As Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) continue to battle for the Democratic nomination, McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has the luxury of beginning his general-election campaign.

McCain still has work to do inside his party as he tries to overcome conservative resistance to his candidacy. But Democratic governors for the most part assume Republicans will rally around McCain, leaving him free to shift his attention to the center of the electorate.

"He is appealing in Michigan," said Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who supports Clinton. "He does appeal to independent thinkers -- at least he did in the past -- and we have a lot of those in Michigan. Whoever the Democrat is, Michigan is a state where we're going to have to work."
Rendell, also a Clinton supporter, said McCain can compete for votes in southeastern Pennsylvania, where suburban voters generally favor abortion rights, and in western Pennsylvania, where many strongly oppose abortion.

"He's going to contest for those suburban voters that have been delivering Pennsylvania to Democratic presidential candidates for the last four elections," Rendell said. "He will be the strongest Republican to contest for their votes. And he does it without sacrificing the ability to go after conservative, pro-life Democrats in the western part of the state."

Napolitano, who backs Obama, acknowledged that with McCain as the GOP nominee, Democrats may face a stiffer challenge in winning Rocky Mountain states that have voted Republican in most recent elections but whose changing demographics make them Democratic targets.

"If I'm the Republican nominee and I'm John McCain, I do not take those states for granted," she said. "But it does change the strategy [for the Democrats]." She said the goal should be tying McCain closely to President Bush.

"I think John McCain could have an appeal to a lot of Ohioans," said Gov. Ted Strickland, a Clinton supporter. "I don't think it's a given that John McCain can't win the election. I just think that, rightly or wrongly, he is perceived as a straight-talking, independent, honest person." But if McCain appears to be pandering to his party's conservative base, Strickland said, he might not do as well.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Clinton supporter, said McCain's biography, which includes more than five years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, makes him "a formidable challenge" in the fall campaign. "But I do think that the wave of change and the reaction to these last really disastrous years to our country under George W. Bush is going to be difficult for him to overcome."

Other Democratic governors also balanced positive assessments of McCain with criticisms. Granholm said Iraq and the economy could undermine him in her state.

"Michigan is not in favor of 100 years in Iraq," she said, referring to McCain's statement that a long-term commitment in Iraq -- though not an all-out war -- might be acceptable to help stabilize that country. "He's got to be strong about not entering into new trade agreements that give away the store," she continued. "On those two issues, I think he's going to be vulnerable."

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said a McCain-Obama race would provide "the absolute matchup that contrasts the past and the future." Sebelius has endorsed Obama, and when asked how he would compare with McCain as a potential commander in chief in the eyes of voters, she pointed to the 1996 race between President Bill Clinton and former senator Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.).

Like O'Malley, she cited McCain's personal story of courage and heroism but recalled that Dole, too, was a war hero with a powerful personal story but nonetheless lost his bid to "a young leader who had a different vision of America."

Republican governors, including several who supported McCain early, even before his campaign went into a tailspin last summer, said he will present a contrast with either Obama or Clinton that voters will find attractive.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty cited McCain's work on global warming and his efforts to overhaul immigration law as characteristics that give him appeal beyond the traditional Republican coalition.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said McCain offers "a different face for the party" in a race in which "we're going to face the most left-wing presidential candidate, whichever it is, that the country has seen nominated."

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford supported McCain's candidacy in 2000 but remains neutral this year. Noting polls that show Obama leading McCain in general-election tests, Sanford said the campaign will look far different by Labor Day.

"As [Obama] beings to fill in the blanks of what change means, a lot of the jet fuel that's been fueling his campaign is going to be taken out of his gas tank," he said.

[smartprimate]

The Govs are right to be anxious - in more ways than one. Not only is McCain a formidable and appealing candidate, the presumptive Dem candidate (the Big O) brings with him a host of nervous-making ideas. They are all fretful of campaigning along-side this young charismatic candidate who will naturally give every wet-behind the ears political novice the idea of taking their job. If a one-term Junior Senator can run for president, why can%u2019t a one term assemblyman, state senator, district attorney, etc. run for governor? They will all be looking at the Axelrod playbook, polish up their speech abilities and start and internet campaign%u2026 I have a dream.

[cbville72]

YES,..MCCant is Just MORE of SHRUB!!!
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Just Say ~ NO "



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Posted by neobrian at 09:51 PM : Feb 26, 2008


Perhaps a name change is in order. Instead of neobrian, swap a few letters and the name fits you like a glove....NOBRAIN!
Thanks for advertising yourself as a double threat. Not only can you not make a point, but you do it in a way that advertises your exquisite writing skills.
Good stuff.

I''ll vote republican if the choices the democrats leave us with is obama/clinton. I like to work for a living and don''t believe in the idea of America as a Socialist country.

There is no telling what the American people will do. It was crushing when Bush was reelected...incomprehensible. Since then, I am completely at a loss to explain the American psyche. Americans who want out of Iraq should not vote for McCain...they should vote for a Democrat, any Democrat. However, they may be against the war but hate healthcare reform and so they vote for McCain. Certainly very wealthy Americans who are totally absorbed with money will want McCain. That is to be expected, but there are wealthy individuals who want our country to be wealthy in other ways. Their values do not center on the dollar bill...they want Americans to have a measure of the good life. These people should vote for the Democrat, but don''t count on it.
Obama will have a battle royal defending himself from every angle. And the Repugs are not going to be so nice about it. Hillary is used to attacks...she is strong and determined and very experienced. She is far better qualified to be president. That

[godofredo29]

I know in Ohio they''re rapidly discovering what a moron their new democratic governor is. Clearly, he''s not the sharpest tack in the box. This is surprising given his roots in Southern Ohio, a place a lot of smart people have come from. As for McCain''s life story, we''ve seen already what good being a war hero really does a politician. Anyway, a flyer is not somebody who''s going to be any great tactician or strategist. Frankly, the only people to trust now are the American People. Whichever candidate does the best job of staying out of the way of the American People, who are pretty pissed off right now, is going to be the best president. The way I see it Obama is like the logo Nationwide adopted after it got rid of the N with the eagle, that is, an empty box in which the consumer was supposed to imagine the possibilites. "Life comes at you fast" pretty well summarizes where the country is right now and the people need to take charge of their destiny. I''m godofredo29 and I authorized this message.

[neobrian-2009]

LIES,..DECEPTION,.GOP Pranks,..
Posted by alanrobisch2 at 06:59 PM : Feb 26, 2008------
-------------------
Obviously ,This guy has been" BUSH-WHACKED",..Brain-dead Bushbot!,...NO MORE GOP ! The War is Sucking out OUR DOLLARS! The Corruption Is Too MUCH to Handle !
The Lies ,The Greed,The TOTAL Hypocrisy of the GOP sect has ruined Our once proud country ! NO MORE GOP !! NO MORE GOP !!! NO MORE GOP !!! NO MORE GOP !!
Friends NEVER let Friends vote republiCon !

[neobrian-2009]

DISASTROUS YEARS DURING SHRUB!!!
"But I do think that the wave of change and the reaction to these last really disastrous years to our country under George W. Bush is going to be difficult for him to overcome."
-----------------------------
YES,..MCCant is Just MORE of SHRUB!!!
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
Just Say ~ NO "

[donbl1]

realpatriot, we are in agreement.

This is going to be America''s best "choice" election in a long time and a lot of fun to watch and participate in.

[realpatriot1]

Donbl1,

Not only do we have candidates we can be proud of for their moderation and reaching across the aisle, we also have 2 candidates who will resist the worst elements of partisonship we''ve seen fron Romney, Hillary, & Guliani.

Once Hillary joins Romney & Rudi on the sideline we might be able to have a real discussion of issues and not just innuendos.

[jonesforch]

alanrobisch2:

So very true they give our troops better connection to the net then some of the rest of have.

[wardoglrs]

If Americans Knew For god''s sake wakeup.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/if-americans-knew-aipac-adl-zionist-control-of-america/2704972319