Analysis: McCain Is Running On Angry

(US News)  This column was written by U.S. News & World Report columnist Gloria Borger.

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At John McCain campaign headquarters in Northern Virginia, there's a conviction that the press has turned the presidential election into a game show. "Do voters want an American Idol contest for president?" asks senior adviser Steve Schmidt. "Is this supposed to be the political equivalent of Dancing With the Stars?" He stops for a minute to watch the live coverage of a press conference from the Middle East held by Barack Obama, or "the One," as he is now routinely dubbed in McCainworld. Obama's adventure abroad has turned out to be a tad too excellent.

Never mind, say John McCain's aides. We always knew this was going to be about Obama. We always knew it would take place in a country at a tipping point, fearful about its future, looking for a leader who is steady in a crisis. And, they add, we are "delighted" to make this a referendum on Obama. (Of course, that's better than having an election that is a referendum on President Bush.) If that sounds like a vaguely familiar strategy, it's because Hillary Clinton has already tried it. But here's the question: Which Clinton campaign will McCain run? The one with a clear message and substance, which led to a string of more than a half-dozen victories in the late contests? Or the one that made her entirely unlikable?

So far, McCain is running largely on angry. That is, the initial game plan of Hillary the Scold -- in which she claimed that she was the only candidate who had been "vetted," the only one who was truly "electable," the only one ready to be commander in chief. As her campaign belittled what it saw as fawning Obama press coverage, the candidate chided, "Shame on you, Barack Obama," all but sending her opponent into a corner for a timeout. McCain is clearly channeling her frustration when he declares that Obama "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign." Ouch.

Getting mad made Clinton look small. McCain just looks mean. So why not try to accentuate what works best for McCain, such as his credentials as someone who has spent a career bucking his party, working across the aisle, trying to fix things? Clinton's populist voice handed her success; McCain as a reformer is his best bet. After all, McCain was a leader in efforts to reform congressional pork-barrel spending, immigration, and ethics. He worked with Democrats on a truce to limit filibusters of Supreme Court nominees. He's against torture. His efforts didn't always pan out, but he never ducked a fight. "He needs to start talking more about how he works across party lines," says a Republican strategist who consults with the campaign. "Then he has to say how Obama has not gotten his hands dirty on any big issue."

Middle ground. It is a point not lost on the newly retooled McCain campaign. If Obama is a risk, as it says, he's also a risk because he has no experience in "taking care of business," which is what voters want. This is a "wrong track" election; around 80 percent of voters say the country is headed in the wrong direction. They think Washington has failed, which is why they want the change Obama promises. But they also want proof that someone can make it happen, which is McCain's opening. He's been anti-Washington and anti-establishment. "We have to show he puts his country first," says a McCain adviser. "Above partisanship."

That's an appealing message to independent voters, and especially the undecided 12 percent of the electorate. It's not going to attract the conservative Republican base, but so what? It doesn't like McCain much anyway. Truth is, a President McCain would most likely have to work with a heavily Democratic Congress. His job now is to convince independents that he can do it -- and that the resulting legislation would be more appealing than the variety concocted just by Democrats.

Sure, presidential elections are about character and the comfort level of voters. And sure, the story line about Obama's arrogance is temting -- especially if McCain counterprograms himself as "humble," as one adviser puts it, while "Obama gets up in a stadium like Caesar" at the Democratic convention. Still, it's always more effective for a candidate to discuss what voters care about. They like happy warriors better than angry ones. They respect pols who say: "I've learned the painful lessons about the selfish politics of Washington. I've paid the price for breaking ranks. Now I want to work for you."

Then when Ryan Seacrest asks the audience to text its votes, the winner could stun the experts.


By Gloria Borger

[blitzder]

After 230 years of the ''Declaration of Independence''.....
...."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ...........That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security..........."

REPUBLICAN DESPOTISM NEEDS TO BE THROWN OFF........Vote Obama.

[teekaa1]

Did ya notice that Exxon reeled in billions in profits this year? Did ya notice that the current guy in WDC is an oilman? Did ya see in Newsweek that he and Laura are looking at a house in Dallas worth millions--or she just might enjoyworking with their architect to design their own. You can bet it won''t be shabby chic either!! Wake up America!! We don''t need an experienced politician in the White House; did ya notice what we have in the continental USA plus Ala and Hawaii with a C-Student at the helm? Get a grip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[messiahx4eve]

McCain is showing his true colors now, after months of eathing an extra bowl of STUPID every morning like his personal idol the chimp in charge, that shrubbie the great, that man who''s only taste is in his mouth, DUBYA, yessir mister mccain, we want four more years of continued IGNORANCE and STUPIDITY of a REPUBLICAN cheeze whizz like YOU in the Whitehouse!!!! You got your head shoved so far where the sun don''t shine that you are slamming your own tongue against the top of your skull. PLEASE for the LOVE of ANY GOD, JUST GO AWAY AND TAKE BRATTNY AND PAIRASS WITH YOU.

[veteran188]

angry? Try insane, this clown is a batshiit rightwing

nutcase, too much agent orange

another borrow the country to ruin, and spend, spend, spend, republicon

spending borrowed money, helll why raise taxes, when you can borrow your grandkids to death

[thatanial]

McCain is a dipshit that should make liberals proud, unfortunately they are too dumbstruck and too easily coerced by the media.

They will comply with the wishes of Ted Turner and George Soros without asking a single question.

If someone does ask questions or bring up anything about Obamas glorious campaign, you are racist or a facist or whatever ''evil'' word they can come up with to make themselves feel better.

Obama is no differant, the only change we will see is the change thats left in our wallets after he is done handing our money out.

War will go as it will have gone no matter who is president and no matter who is in congress. They are too busy robbing fannie mae blind to worry about such things.

[Worldbfree]

Mccain is a Career Politician, The ExactReason why this Country is in the sad Shape it is Currently in.. He''s No War Hero, he gave the Viet Cong Classified Information, He Recorded Propogandist Tapes, Denouncing this Country, The USA (32 Tapes) and he Never saved anyones life, nor does he carry any Distinguished Medals of Honor. The Viet namese called John McCain "My Singing Bird" Google it up....A!! ****...General Patraeus has Not Endorsed John McCain and McCain Did not Support or Vote on the Jim Webb GI Bill for More Extensive Coverage for Military Men & Women, that Passed this Year, Barack Obama... DID

[Netterz]

Would you hire me???

If I only had 143 days of experience, Would you hire me to fix your car?
Would you hire me to run your company? If I only had 143 days experience
would you hire me to run the country? Something America might want to think
about.

Just how much Senate experience does Barack Obama have in terms of actual
work days? Not much.

From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the
time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he
logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That''s how many days the Senate
was actually in session and working (??).

After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be
Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham
Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan.

143 days -- I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that. This
isn''t taking into account the days he has missed.

In contrast, John McCain''s 26 years in Congress, 22 years of military
service including 1,966 days in captivity as a POW in Hanoi now seem more
impressive than ever. At 71, John McCain may just be hitting his stride.
Think about IT!!!

A great many people in this country have obviously gone stark raving mad!

[jimfinster]

"hello, I am John McCain, and I am mad as helll!"

[wogerwabbit]

John McCain sold his soul when he went along with Bush''s torture. Up until that moment I really liked the guy and would have voted for him without hesitation. I judge people by their character and when he sold out such a deeply held principle like that so he can be elected president, that tells me he can''t be trusted. After admiring the man for many years, John McCain has been a big disappointment.

[downtowner97]

Yup. McCain is good at reaching across the aisle. Like when he reached across the aisle to try to keep Martin Luther King''s birthday from becoming a holiday.