McCain Downplays Campaign Staff Shake-Up

Republican Wraps Up Foreign Trip In Meeting With Mexican President

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Thursday that a shake-up in the leadership of his campaign was part of a "natural evolution" as the organization becomes more national in scope.

McCain's campaign announced Wednesday that top adviser Steve Schmidt would assume a broad portfolio of duties, with nearly full control over message and strategy. Schmidt will report to Rick Davis, who will keep the title of campaign manager but focus on longer term matters like the Republican National Convention and McCain's choice of a running mate.

Addressing reporters at the conclusion of a three-day visit to Colombia and Mexico, the GOP nominee-in-waiting downplayed the personnel shift.

"Our campaign continues to grow, and the responsibilities are expanding and Mr. Schmidt is taking over some increased responsibilities," McCain said. "Rick Davis remains the campaign chairman, campaign manager. It's a natural evolution as we become more and more of a national campaign with increased staff and increased responsibilities."

The staff shake-up - coming after Republican complaints that the Arizona senator's campaign lacked focus and a coherent message - threatened to overshadow McCain's trip through Latin America and his effort to present himself as a statesman experienced in foreign affairs.

McCain met Thursday with Mexican President Felipe Calderon to discuss trade and immigration issues. They spoke at length about the Merida Initiative, a U.S.-sponsored effort to stem the flow of drugs and guns across the Mexico border, McCain said.

McCain and his wife, Cindy, also toured a federal police station where they reviewed drug interdiction training programs.

McCain began the day at the Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico's holiest Roman Catholic site, where he viewed the famed portrait of the Virgin of Guadalupe and received a blessing from the Basilica's monsignor.

McCain laid a wreath of white roses at the altar and stood atop the Papal balcony. He was accompanied by President Bush's brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who was in Mexico on business.

"I think he's going to win," Jeb Bush said of McCain's chances against Democrat Barack Obama. "He just needs to be himself and not let Sen. Obama redefine himself."

McCain's visit to the Basilica had clear political overtones as Catholic and Hispanic voters are expected to be key swing voters in the November election. Obama also has worked to woo Catholics and Hispanics after those groups voted heavily for Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton during the primary season.

McCain's trip to Colombia and Mexico was billed primarily as an opportunity to promote free trade in the Western Hemisphere.

Obama has spoken out against NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and a pending free-trade pact with Colombia, both of which are unpopular in important general election swing states like Ohio. McCain wants to help workers displaced by free-trade agreements receive job training and other benefits.

The McCains were returning to Phoenix late Thursday, and planned to spend the Fourth of July holiday at the family compound outside Sedona, Ariz.

[watcher269-2009]

George W Bush actually gives Osama Bin Laden his Wish!

In a 1998 interview, Osama bin Laden %u2014 the terrorist organizer of 9/11 who still roams free %u2014 listed as one of his many grievances against the U.S. that Americans %u201Chave stolen $36 trillion from Muslims%u201D by purchasing oil from Persian Gulf countries at low prices. The real price of a barrel of oil should be $144, bin Laden demanded.

Ten years ago today, the price of a barrel of oil was just $11. Heading into this holiday weekend, the price of a barrel of oil rested at $144 %u2014 a thirteen-fold increase.

One month after 9/11, the New York Times wrote of possible %u201Cnightmare%u201D scenarios that would deliver bin Laden%u2019s goal. Neela Banerjee warned that among the %u201Cmisguided decisions%u201D that would put oil supplies at risk would be %u201Cthat the United States attacks Iraq.%u201D The Times included this quote in its story:

%u201CIf bin Laden takes over and becomes king of Saudi Arabia, he%u2019d turn off the tap,%u201D said Roger Diwan, a managing director of the Petroleum Finance Company, a consulting firm in Washington. %u201CHe said at one point that he wants oil to be $144 a barrel%u201D %u2014 about six times what it sells for now.

[wardoglrs]

You idiots that support leaders that don''t believe in the constitution need to step aside and or leave this country. You are the reason were in this hell hole.
Get your head out of your a s s.

This women is Neo Con *** with no intent on doing anything but put more wood on the fire.

And this POS Obama is nothing but a snake oil salsmen
and you bought it hook line and sinker

[samsel3]

I understand that McCain can''t stand the sound of Rattling Keyes. It''s supposed to set him off....

Ever notice how even tempered he is now as compared to before his run for office.

Maybe he''s taking Prozac. It sure looks like they have him medicated.

[noloyalisti]

McBush: The anti-torture candidate supports torture. The pro-immigration candidate opposes immigration. The candidate who opposes tax cuts for the rich supports them. The pro-campaign finance reform candidate has a campaign run almost exclusively by lobbyists. The candidate who opposes "agents of intolerance" in the Republican Party embraces them. The candidate who claims to be a fiscal conservative wants to bust the budget.

McBush flip flops and lies even more than the real thing. What''s not to hate about him.

[noloyalisti]

Is McBush still running for pResident? What a disgrace for America and everyone with even 1/4 of a brain. What hasn''t he lied or flip flopped on yet?

[rudy654-2009]

The hate obama crowd have a problem. They hate Obama for the obvious reason of him being black, but they hate McCain too because he is so nice to those Roman Catholic Mexicans. What to do?

[ianlou]

I''m really enjoying the neoCon Moon-Bat posts lately, They hate everything about Obama but love nothing about McCain. Their man, whever he was, lost in the primary''s or before.

[kissamaarse]

"The Double Talk Express Daily News"
-Elitist wife Cindy charges a mere $750,000 last month to her American Express card
-The elitist McCains own SEVEN homes and have failed to pay property taxes on at least one of them
-McCain hasn''t cast a Senate vote since early April. missing over 320 votes
-McCain backs Colombia free trade because lobbyist Charlie Black, his chief advisor, is on Colombia''s payroll

You don''t know John!

[floydzepp2]

"The Republican presidential hopeful was meeting later with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, where he was expected to promise a "Free Trade" of RINOpublican Greed-Profit for more American jobs. Caulderon wept openly and immediately planned a general prison release to meet the labor demand.

[ianlou]

McCain would do better by focusing on America''s domestic problems instead of pretending he''s globe trotting as President on Air Force One.

[rushlimpdrug]

Wow, he beat obama to the punch.

obama'' slowin'' down.

[cantshutup]

why the ph uck is he down there kissing that mexicano liars arss???? why the ph uck isn''t he down here where i live in southwest missouri where the people are lined up at the free store or the free clinic or holding cups for change on the street????? what the ph uck is wrong with these muther ph uckers who care more about everyone else all over the world except Americans???? i''m sick of politicians and the same old same old stuff...i''m sick of the liar and criminal who illegally sits as the president of the united states...i''m sick of the COWARDS AND LIARS in the congress who don''t have the nerve or fortitude to do what is right and keep the executive office in line with checks and balances...what a bunch of cowardly, lying, pu ssies we have for leaders...i can''t think of ONE that shouldn''t be hung up on a high noose...we need revolution, Americans are taking it up the arsse like they like it or something...AMERICANS STOP BEING COWARDS AND FIGHT THESE SoB''s!!! remember our great history and the brave people who dumped tea in Boston harbour or those who fought and continue to fight for us to be free...we are going to be slaves the rest of our lives to the corporate greed that''s rampant in our country until we FIGHT THEM EYE TO EYE!!!!

[pvperson]

Asked by Foxnews Thursday, if he personally trusts Obama Thursday, McCain said: %u201CI%u2019m sure he%u2019s trustworthy. I admire Senator Obama %u2026

See what happens when Lieberman isn''t there to tell John what to say. This must be why Jeb Bush was dispatched to "help" ole John.

[floydzepp2]

What is so sad is that the very jobs McCain wants to "Free Trade" away are the jobs of the people who claim to be "Republicans".

[floydzepp2]

Juan McCain:
Given your wealth and privileged upbringing, arent you - and not Barack Obama - the elitist?

Didnt President Bush betray you with his signing statement on the Detainee Treatment Act?

You claim to be against torture, but arent you a hypocrite for voting "no" on the Senate waterboaring ban?

Posted by neoconism at 02:32 PM : Jul 03, 2008
------------

And there are people who would STILL support this embarrassment of a man.

[missingamerica]

Wonder if McCain saw Mexico''s "Statue of liberty (from social responsibility)" while he has been down there?

You know, the one that points North and has a plaque that says "Give them our tired, our hungry, our poor - lest our people notice we exploit the *** out of them.".

[floydzepp2]

Juan McCain: Given your past adultery, should Americans consider you a moral exemplar of family values? Do you agree with Pastor John Hagee that war with Iran is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy? Doesnt your flip-flop on Jerry Falwell being an "agent of intolerance" show your opportunistic pandering to the religious right?

Posted by neoconism at 02:11 PM : Jul 03, 2008
-------

No. Probably or Pandering. And Yes but I''m Desperate to be Preident.

Posted by FloydZepp2 at 02:15 PM : Jul 03, 2008

[floydzepp2]

Juan McCain: Given your past adultery, should Americans consider you a moral exemplar of family values? Do you agree with Pastor John Hagee that war with Iran is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy? Doesnt your flip-flop on Jerry Falwell being an "agent of intolerance" show your opportunistic pandering to the religious right?

Posted by neoconism at 02:11 PM : Jul 03, 2008
-------

No.

[floydzepp2]

What was he doing? Recruiting Illegals for new batch of "Formerly held by Americans" jobs?

[brittanicus-2009]

Afraid there is not much evident difference, between the most economic pestilence, that confronts AMERICA?

Senator Obama already promised he would give the millions of illegal aliens, squatting in this nation AMNESTY? Old McCain will do likewise to get the vote in November. Both parties are heavily pandering to foreign nationals, no matter what the catastrophic TRILLION DOLLAR economic impact to taxpayers. We must pass the SAVE ACT before this happens. Afterwards will BE TOO LATE for overburdened taxpayers, who will be forced to support them. Plus the millions more who will think it''s ''open day'' from the third world countries poor.

Under the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) predatory employers would be arrested, fined and possibly imprisoned and millions of illegal aliens would leave of their OWN ACCORD. It would give (ICE) more funding and build the US border patrol up to 20.000 more agents in strength, build the fence as ORIGINALLY intended. This nationwide law would also begin to remove criminal aliens, ''SANCTUARY STATES'' from our society. It would give extra teeth to all immigration laws now on the books. Demand the SAVE ACT! (2022243121 ) Unsuppressed details at NUMBERSUSA.