Senator John McCain understands that there is still ill will on the part of many Republicans from his 2000 primary challenge to then-Texas Gov. George Bush, and knows he will need to work on that if he decides to run in 2008. Mike Glover of the Associated Press reports from Grinnell, Iowa:
Sen. John McCain said Tuesday there is "lingering resentment" among some Republicans because of his primary fight in 2000 with George W. Bush.
Those feelings may complicate his decision whether to seek the presidential nomination for 2008, said McCain, R-Ariz."If I run, and we'll decide that early next year, there's a lot of work to do," McCain said as he began a two-day visit to Iowa, which traditionally holds leadoff caucuses in January of presidential election years.
"Here in Iowa there are parts of the party where there's still lingering resentment over the bitterness of the 2000 race," he said.
Read the rest at link above.
In 2000, McCain skipped Iowa, where the rest of the field labored, and concentrated his hopes on contrarian New Hampshire instead. The strategy worked then, leaving him as the lone remaining rival to Bush as the campaign moved forward.
Some of the resentment in Iowa is probably due to his leapfrogging the state in 2000, though. The acrimony between the candidates really began after New Hampshire, with charges over campaign tactics on both sides in South Carolina and Michigan fueling the fire.
McCain knows that not only have many Republicans not forgotten, but that his support for the Iraq War and Bush policies has driven a wedge into his once-cozy relationship with the press. It was one thing in 2000, when he was viewed as a potential spoiler of Republican plans, and quite another in 2008 when he is on the "wrong" side of the press corps.
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General politics, McCain, Strategy
Comments (7)
Senator McCain's problems h... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Corky Boyd | August 15, 2006 9:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Senator McCain's problems have more to with his general disloyalty to his party and the President. His disgraceful performance in forming the "Gang of 14" is the memory most Republicans have. Bloggers should beware of his anti-free speech stand with McCain-Feingold and his lack of action to see legislation through the senate to exempt blogs. The FEC has done this, but it can reverse itself at any time.
Senator McCain has always been for Senator McCain and no one else.
1. Posted by Corky Boyd | August 15, 2006 9:38 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 15, 2006 21:38
2. Posted by FreeKeys | August 15, 2006 10:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yes, McCain-Feingold is what totally sealed my animosity toward McCain. There is NO excuse for that horror and all the potential for abuse, from shutting down blogs to broadcasts to ANYthing that it has.
Besides, feeling people can sense that John McCain is an uptight, mean, resentful, vengeful s.o.b. underneath that almost-sincere smile.
And as unbelievable as it may be to all the cerebral people here, the swing voters carried by W and especially, the Gipper, trust their gut as to who is a basically benevolent person and who is not.
The two LEAST basically-benevolent wannabe-Presidents are Hillary and McCain.
2. Posted by FreeKeys | August 15, 2006 10:02 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 15, 2006 22:02
3. Posted by The Exposer | August 15, 2006 11:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
McCain is a senile NUT who has no business being anywhere near a position of power or authority. If he gets the nomination, I, and millions of other Conservatives will NOT vote for him. Same goes for liberal Rudy.
3. Posted by The Exposer | August 15, 2006 11:08 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 15, 2006 23:08
4. Posted by Scrapiron | August 15, 2006 11:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
McCain had some good ideas and some good programs when he was campaigning in 2000. He turned into a blubbering backstabber and traitor to his party immediately after his loss to President Bush. He is not one that takes a loss well and his temperment would get the U.S. in a lot of trouble if he was running things. The gang of 14 is a good example of trying to do away with the 'majority' in the senate and run it like a nazi operation. I think the entire gang of 14 should be turned out of congress at the earliest date possible.
4. Posted by Scrapiron | August 15, 2006 11:10 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 15, 2006 23:10
5. Posted by Jim Addison | August 15, 2006 11:20 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
There is no doubt all of the issues raised by the comments above will be factors against McCain.
In addition, many Republicans aren't happy with the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill, even though it didn't pass.
McCain's best chance, if he runs, is a crowded field where he can win a couple of early contests with 30% or so, and run the others out of money by creating a aura of inevitability. If he loses the early contests, he will be forced out.
5. Posted by Jim Addison | August 15, 2006 11:20 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 15, 2006 23:20
6. Posted by Falcon | August 16, 2006 12:51 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
McCain's "lingering resentment" for not winning the Republican nomination is a major reason why he should not be our party's nominee in 2008. The man simply doesn't have the temperment to be President.
6. Posted by Falcon | August 16, 2006 12:51 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 16, 2006 00:51
7. Posted by hermie | August 16, 2006 8:29 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
McCain's 'cosy' relationship with the MSM would last exactly one second before he got the GOP nomination. Then all the spiked stories of his temperment, conflicts of interest, the Keating scandal, etc, would reappear. These would stay on the front page of the NYT, WP and broadcast on every TV 'news' outlet, up to and including Election Day.
The MSM has repeatedly shown that it wants Dems in office; even ones who are hypocrites, criminals, and other bottom-feeders. Why McCain believes that he is immune from the MSM attacks, is a mystery.
7. Posted by hermie | August 16, 2006 8:29 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on August 16, 2006 08:29