Political Discussions

Advice: What Should McCain Do Now?

Posted by MidwestMom • 10/14/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: campaign strategy, election, john mccain, NPR, politics

NPR's Watching Washington column by Ron Elving had some interesting observations today.

Why Is McCain Campaigning Like This?
...McCain knows his recent strategy has been about fear and suspicion and the dark side of the American psyche. He is clearly uncomfortable with it, which is why he undercut the message himself by correcting supporters who called Obama "an Arab" or wondered if they'd be safe raising a child under an Obama presidency.

Moments such as this suggest the McCain of old is still in there, somewhere. But such moments also ensnare him in a worst-of-both-worlds trap. They please neither the admirers who abhor the brawling tactics nor the backers who beg him to go after Obama hammer and tong.

These warring impulses have raged within McCain's campaign, threatening to send it off the rails. Those who have been with him longest yearn for the "Straight Talk Express" of 2000. But there are also two waves of newer arrivals, one that saved McCain from oblivion a year ago and another that brought new discipline and force to the campaign late in the spring of this year.

In better times, the factions may have coexisted and McCain may not have suffered from their competition. But since the market meltdown, the strain has been showing on all concerned.

With three weeks to go, the nationwide conservative conversation is tinged with dismay. Some are calling for McCain to demonstrate nonpartisan leadership about the economy, the foreign threats and the campaign itself. Others urge "Top Gun" Johnny Mack to blaze away, to bring the haughty Obama to earth.

The problem is that neither approach is likely to work quite the way its advocates say it will — because the current predicament of the McCain campaign is not only of its own making, nor is it under anyone's control.

My question is this: If you were giving advice, what would you have John McCain do differently? Is there anything he CAN do or SHOULD do to benefit his campaign and the American people?

User Comments

10/14/08

xmarks

He should start writing the pro-Obama book for publication release January 20,2009.

[reply]
1. 10/14/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  How did I know that the first remark would be someone smarting off?
  
  Seriously, though, is there anything you think McCain can do at this point? Would changing his VP in favor of Romney do anything? Is there any policy proposal he could make that could renew his credibility? Or is it completely, irrecoverably shot?
2. 10/14/08
  
  xmarks
  
  Dad used to say, "If you don't have smart to say, you should be a smarta$$."
  
  It think it might be too late for him. I would recommend that he and his surrogates keep attacks up on Obama's record but leave the character assassination alone. He should probably sacrifice a supporter by having the supporter say something mean and stupid about Obama, then McCain can come out and give the supporter a good old fashion tongue lashing.
  
  It is too late to switch vps. He should have Palin's get on as many conservative friendly talk shows, news programs as possible. Make it look like she is really open to reporters.
  
  McCain needs own the economic problem. He has to come out with a big, innovative, new idea economic program that 30+ senators and 150+ representatives already support. Show that one day one he will tackle the economic problems in this country in a sane and effective manner.
10/14/08

Wisco

Seriously, though, is there anything you think McCain can do at this point?

Short of singlehandedly fixing the economy, probably nothing.

Would changing his VP in favor of Romney do anything?

Not anything good. McCain's already getting a rep for being flighty and impetuous. Switching VPs in the middle of the game would just make that worse.

Is there any policy proposal he could make that could renew his credibility?

Again, I don't think so. He would've been better off if he'd stuck to one message throughout, but he's been poll-chasing and that's had him fip-flopping all along. Another reversal wouldn't be helpful.

Or is it completely, irrecoverably shot?

Pretty much. I think McCain should decide which of his houses he wants to retire to.

[reply]
1. 10/14/08
  
  MidwestMom
  
  Okay, Wisco...
  
  How about this?
  
  What if McCain fired all of his people and put the "Straight Talk Express" crew from 2000 back together? What if he started showing Americans that he's not GWB Jr. and helped remind them that he was the guy they should have nominated instead of GWB in the first place?
  
  Do you think there's time for him to jump back on the express bus to credibility?
  
  (I'm not disagreeing with you... I just want to explore the options here...)
2. 10/14/08
  
  satijournal
  
  Do you think there's time for him to jump back on the express bus to credibility?
  
  With only three weeks left before the election, that would look like just another gimmick and an act of desperation.
10/14/08

Wisco

What if McCain fired all of his people and put the "Straight Talk Express" crew from 2000 back together?

Firing them, yeah. I kind of expect that to happen, but I don't think it'll make any difference. Putting together the 200 team? They didn't win that time, either.

[reply]
10/14/08

Anok

McCain might be able to regain at least some of his dignity if he lays off the violent rhetoric express, and asks his VP to do so also - and they both do it in earnest.

Honestly, his campaign has gone back and forth on issues, weird suspensions, attacks and very little of substance. I don't think there is anything he can do now.

If, however, this was several months back, I think the advice would be to keep it clean, be more careful in picking your VP, start preparing early, instead of waiting until the last minute, and have solid, factual policies to use as a positive for your campaign, and only use attacks against your opponents voting records that are valid.

McCain had enough of a following that he could have been winning this race had he done that, instead of coming out like gangbusters, then changing his technique, then changing again...and focusing on bogus and dangerous rhetoric against Obama.

[reply]
1. 10/14/08
  
  xmarks
  
  McCain has a real problem in that he needs to tack together far right christian, far right fiscal conservatives, middle of the road republicans and moderate independents. That is not an easy group to push together.
2. 10/14/08
  
  Anok
  
  No it's not. However, he had the opportunity to do it a while back...
  
  One, his stance on Abortion and gay marriage would, and still appeals to conservative Christians, reeling them in with that has worked in the past for many a politician.
  
  Two, his stance on deregulation of industries works well with fiscal conservatives, although that was derailed by the economic bust - I don't know that there was anything he could have done about it - aside from talk about welfare reform and tax cuts for corporations - which has routinely worked in the past.
  
  The middle of the road and moderates and independents are harder to win - so as long as none of his other stances were too concrete, and he threw in some patriotism, talk about rebuilding the economy etc...education reform and other day to day stuff would have probably gotten him enough votes from those groups to do the trick.
  
  He quickly lost ground in states that traditionally carried republican candidates because of lack of planning and preparation. As Obama was preparing to do battle in those states, he set up quickly, and hit them hard while McCain was twiddling his thumbs, being a little over confident that the red states would stay red.
  
  That was a huge tactical error.
10/14/08

clioandme

McCain 1.0 and McCain 2.0 need to learn how to get along better. Maybe couples' therapy would help.

[reply]
1. 10/14/08
  
  Anok
  
  Couples therapy? But they're mavericks!
2. 10/14/08
  
  clioandme
  
  with split personality disorder
10/14/08

RuinousRight

John McCain should advise his followers to vote for the better candidate - Barack Obama.

[reply]
10/14/08

Theresa111

John McCain looks as if he needs to rest. This is taking a toll on his health. This is said with sincerity and concern.

[reply]
1. 10/14/08
  
  clioandme
  
  It is tough. That's for sure. At least he's been taking part or all of his weekends off.