McCain Taps Former Bush Political Director

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/18/06 | Ron Fournier - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (AP) - With an eye toward the 2008 presidential campaign, GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona has hired one of President Bush's top re-election advisers to help run his political action committee.

Terry Nelson, political director of the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004, will be senior adviser to Straight Talk America, according to several official familiar with the hiring. They spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt an announcement by McCain's committee.

McCain is using the PAC to raise money and organize his travel on behalf of Republicans running in November's midterm elections.

The PAC is also a launching pad for what most Republicans consider to be a likely presidential race by McCain. Nelson's hiring puts him in position to play a major role should McCain seek the White House again.

The Arizona senator ran in 2000, upsetting Bush in New Hampshire but losing the nomination in a bitter two-way race. The Bush and McCain camps eventually came to terms and McCain campaigned vigorously on Bush's behalf in the 2004 re-election campaign.

McCain is courting Bush's supporters, major fundraisers and advisers. Mark McKinnon, the president's chief media strategist, has signaled his willingness to help McCain unless Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or Florida Gov. Jeb Bush gets in the race.

Both Rice and the president's brother have said they will not run.

While some of Bush's former aides may line behind McCain's potential GOP presidential rivals, Nelson's hiring may help McCain cast himself as the early front-runner and potential heir of Bush's political machine.

Nelson, a soft-spoken Iowa native, is well-respected Republican consultant who served as deputy chief of staff and director of political operations at the Republican National Committee from January 2002 until he joined Bush's re-election campaign.

In 2004, Nelson helped put together Bush's well-oiled grass roots operations. Nelson was political director for the House Republican campaign committee during the 2000 election cycle.

[NormsRevenge]

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., delivers the main address at a campaign luncheon for Republican Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell in Hartford, Conn., Friday, March 17, 2006. McCain told a receptive audience Friday that electing Rell to a full term would show the nation that now is the time for reform. McCain is known for supporting campaign finance reform. Rell signed legislation last year that is considered the toughest reform bill in the nation, banning contributions from lobbyists and contractors and creating a voluntary public financing system. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

[NormsRevenge]

The Gubinator and the McCainiac seem to be sharing the bulk of the Bush-Cheney election team members of 2000 and 2004 between themselves, for the most part.

[digger48]

Lovely title to the story. Good thing it wasn't about Clinton

[NormsRevenge]

The '08 ticket? 8-o

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and Trent Lott, R-Miss., listen to questions from reporters on Saturday, March 11, 2006 at the Gulfport Interantional Airport. John McCain continued his tour of the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Gulf Coast on Saturday, pledging to back efforts to get more money into a region where 'there's still huge obligations and needs to be taken care of.' (AP Photo/Nicole LaCour Young)

[uncleshag]

Senator,

With all due respect, know that you'll not have this vote.

[advance_copy]

Professional political operatives go where the money is.

[OKIEDOC]

This man is willing to compromise America to let in millions of illegals.

I don't trust him and certainly will never vote for him for president.


McCain is way to scary.


That damn immigration bill is just to much for me to stomach.

[NormsRevenge]

True. And there's a lot of money around these days.

Politics or the pursuit thereof is a business after all. Mortgages need paying, kids need feeding and schooling. the ex-s need alimony and child support, no matter who's in office.. ;)

[NormsRevenge]

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R- Ariz., speaks to the evening session of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, March 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell)

[NormsRevenge]

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) talks to the press before a rally in support of the 'Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005' in New York February 27, 2006. The legislation, of which McCain is a co-sponsor, opens an avenue to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the United States and makes allowances for those that still want to enter the country. REUTERS/Seth Wenig

[reaganandme]

Ellen Ratner and Chris Matthews are pleading for this guy to be our nominee.
Sorry, but when you offend my conservative beliefs for five years you don't get my vote.

[Cicero]

Good grief. Aside from what I KNOW about McCAin, one look at that picture, or any recent picture of him, would be enough to send me screaming in the other direction.

He really does look certifiably insane. A cross between Dr. Strangelove and The Manchurian Candidate. Normally I love to see politicians posed in front of the flag, but in this case it just makes him look worse. Sorry, but there it is.

[Reagan Man]

I agree with you about the immigration issue. Like Bush, McCain is a sell out. Same with CFR and the torture bill. Bush and McCain agree.

On other issues McCain is no different then Bush. On taxes and spending their approaches are entirely different. Bush has shown he's an instinctive conservative tax cutter, but a big government liberal spender. McCain believes in more limited tax cuts, but wants serious spending reform. Both are pro-defense and pro-life. Again not much difference. Bush and McCain are both bigtime status quo politicos. McCain can be a mavarick at times. Both men are arrogant.

What America needs is a conservative candidate whose more like Reagan. Cut taxes and reduce spending. Reagan proved it can be done. The Feds need to get their fiscal house in order and right now, I don't see anyone capable of getting the job done right.

[bill1952]

I'm not reading past the first post to know that this thread is filled with various people who state clearly that they will not vote for him.

Grow up. This man will be the nominee unless he falls ill.
To say eg, that you will not vote for McCain/Rice is to put another Clinton in the White House for another 8 years.

Just like you did with the silly "protest vote" for Perot, when that let Clintoon into the White House for 8 LONG years.

Do it again. The Clintons are counting on you.

[LADY J]

"In 2004, Nelson helped put together Bush's well-oiled grass roots operations. Nelson was political director for the House Republican campaign committee during the 2000 election cycle."

Lots of luck!! The well-oiled grass roots were willing participants.

McCain will never have the backing from the grass roots that GW had. I don't care what Nelson does.

McCain has pushed his luck being the MSM 'Maverick' sweetheart!! His chickens will come home to roost.

[capt. norm]

Senator, With all due respect, know that you'll not have this vote.

He knows it. Campaigning gives him a chance to get out there and talk about his favorite subject: himself.

[goodnesswins]

OHHHHH..........NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[griswold3]

Barak "Osama" Obama sings:
If I Only Had McCain- (Wizard of Oz)
To the tune of “If I Only Had a Brain”)

I'm aspiring to greatness, but somehow I feel weightless
A freshman's sad refrain
I could be a great uniter, making ethics rules much tighter
If I only had McCain

I could bring us all together, no storm we couldn't weather,
We'd feel each other's pain
Red and blue wouldn't matter, party differences would shatter
If I only had McCain

Oh why is it so hard, for honest men of good will to agree,
If we ever found a way to strike a deal, would we survive… politically?

When a wide-eyed young idealist, confronts a seasoned realist
There's bound to be some strain
With the game barely started, I'd be feeling less downhearted
If I only had McCain

Still I hope for the better, though I may rewrite my letter
Cause I gotta have McCain

[Paul8148]

Watch when he loses NH by 20% (My guess to Romney), The MSM will blame it on the "bush team" and how NH do not like the bushes.

[mombonn]

mclame will have to win the WH without my vote.