Metro, that’s a very interesting article, and I think it bears out my gut instinct about how Sen McCain plans to run his campaign. He’s going to run against the grain of conventional wisdom and party insiders (much to their chagrin), and likely will win because of (not despite) being “unconventional.” That doesn’t mean he won’t make mistakes, but many of what we would consider mistakes will end up benefiting him greatly.
There is a difference between being unconventional and unorganized. Basing your campaign nearly completely on town hall meetings is unconventional, and very well could work.
But the McCain campaign, at least from the sound of that article (and my own personal belief) is a mess. McCain could have launched a broad national strategy on March 1st. He could have named his VP in early June, and consistantly been a step ahead of the Democrats. He didn’t, and consistantly has a 5-7 pt. deficit to show for it.
Naming a VP now is absolutely the least effective thing McCain could do.
You wait- especially if you have the time gap, like McCain does, until a very late hour. Obama announces first, and then the story is “Obama picks so-and-so, now it’s up to McCain” and McCain is still in the headlines. And then, when McCain picks, Obama has nothing to counter that with. You always want to be the last candidate to announce your VP. It’s July. Nothing is locked. Everyone knows that- McCain, Obama, everybody. If McCain is still down 5 pts in late September, we’ve got a problem, but these deficits are meaningless right now.
Robbie is 100% correct. Let us just take it easy as it is July 2nd. Over 2 months until the Convention. Always go second with the VP pick and always go second with the convention.
7. McCain would pick his VP after Obama anyway because the Republican Convention comes after the Democratic Convention.
Also, even if McCain were down in the popular vote by 5 points he could very well win the electoral vote, which is the one that counts. I am also expecting at least a few “New Hampshire” surprises on Obama as to the general election, i.e. when Hillary beat Obama by 5 plus points and he was polling at 8 plus points in New Hamp.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
The poll indicates in part:
“The economy is the single most important issue in their vote, 55 percent say, while 21 percent cite the war in Iraq and 9 percent list healthcare.”
Are the Conn. voters misinformed about their economic fortunes?
Do they know anything about Obama & his plan to kill the U.S. econonmy by raising taxes & forbidding drilling, nuc reactors and clean coal?
Last but not least, last time i checked, the approval rating of the Democratic Congress is below Bush.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
The poll indicates in part:
“The economy is the single most important issue in their vote, 55 percent say, while 21 percent cite the war in Iraq and 9 percent list healthcare.”
Are the Conn. voters misinformed about their economic fortunes?
Do they know anything about Obama & his plan to kill the U.S. econonmy by raising taxes & forbidding drilling, nuc reactors and clean coal?
Last but not least, last time i checked, the approval rating of the Democratic Congress is below Bush.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Off topic: Republican party leaders upset with the lack of strategy from Team McCain:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11474_Page2.html
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Metro, that’s a very interesting article, and I think it bears out my gut instinct about how Sen McCain plans to run his campaign. He’s going to run against the grain of conventional wisdom and party insiders (much to their chagrin), and likely will win because of (not despite) being “unconventional.” That doesn’t mean he won’t make mistakes, but many of what we would consider mistakes will end up benefiting him greatly.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
There is a difference between being unconventional and unorganized. Basing your campaign nearly completely on town hall meetings is unconventional, and very well could work.
But the McCain campaign, at least from the sound of that article (and my own personal belief) is a mess. McCain could have launched a broad national strategy on March 1st. He could have named his VP in early June, and consistantly been a step ahead of the Democrats. He didn’t, and consistantly has a 5-7 pt. deficit to show for it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
No surprise here.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Naming a VP now is absolutely the least effective thing McCain could do.
You wait- especially if you have the time gap, like McCain does, until a very late hour. Obama announces first, and then the story is “Obama picks so-and-so, now it’s up to McCain” and McCain is still in the headlines. And then, when McCain picks, Obama has nothing to counter that with. You always want to be the last candidate to announce your VP. It’s July. Nothing is locked. Everyone knows that- McCain, Obama, everybody. If McCain is still down 5 pts in late September, we’ve got a problem, but these deficits are meaningless right now.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Robbie is 100% correct. Let us just take it easy as it is July 2nd. Over 2 months until the Convention. Always go second with the VP pick and always go second with the convention.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
7. McCain would pick his VP after Obama anyway because the Republican Convention comes after the Democratic Convention.
Also, even if McCain were down in the popular vote by 5 points he could very well win the electoral vote, which is the one that counts. I am also expecting at least a few “New Hampshire” surprises on Obama as to the general election, i.e. when Hillary beat Obama by 5 plus points and he was polling at 8 plus points in New Hamp.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
The media should change its stance to:
Is the country ready for a Jimmy Carter President?
August 29th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Augmentin….
Can you take augmentin for a staff infection. Augmentin….