Posted on 02/02/2008 8:53:10 AM PST by jdm
When Rudy Giuliani left the race and threw his support behind John McCain, people wondered whether it would have much effect on the race. After all, the Mayor had faded badly in the Republican primaries after utilizing a strategy that made him largely irrelevant in the national media. However, Rudy brought two other endorsements that could help build bridges with disaffected conservatives if McCain wins the nomination. First came Ted Olson to provide reassurance on judicial nominations, and today Steve Forbes endorsed McCain, perhaps addressing his self-professed weakness on economics:
U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that Steve Forbes has endorsed John McCain for president.
"More and more Americans will be impressed by John McCain's efforts to reform our convoluted, growth retarding, anti-opportunity tax code." said Mr. Forbes. "He understands that dollars and decisions are best left to hard-working Americans. John McCain's pro-growth plan to cut taxes, stop wasteful spending and reform our healthcare system will secure our nation's prosperity for generations to come. He is the best candidate to ensure our economic and national security. I look forward to working with him in the days ahead."
John McCain thanked Mr. Forbes, stating, "Steve has been a major contributor to the tax reform movement in our country. He is a successful business leader and an effective advocate for reducing the burden of a heavy-handed government. I appreciate Steve's advice and counsel on the important economic issues facing our nation, and I am grateful to have him on our team."
The same subtle difference exists with the Forbes endorsement as with the Olson endorsement two days ago. Rudy didn't just have their endorsements, but had them on advisory panels that implied much closer ties to the policies of the two experts. Olson would have recruited and suggested potential nominees to the bench, and Forbes would have been directly involved in economic policymaking in a Giuliani administration. So far, the McCain campaign has elevated either to that level in their organization, at least not that we've heard.
Still, the Forbes nomination may go a long way towards convincing at least the fiscal conservatives to go with McCain in the general election -- and that seems to be the contest on which McCain's focused. The bitterness between McCain and movement conservatives has to worry McCain for his prospects in a national election. Gaining Olson and Forbes, and agreeing to appear at CPAC next week, all seem very deliberate moves towards convincing the base that they have little to fear from a McCain presidency.
Will it work? It probably will have no effect on the primary. Conservatives who have felt his scorn in the past will not rally to his cause on Super Tuesday or in the primaries beyond. However, with Olson and Forbes on board in the event he wins the nomination, McCain can argue that he will fight for conservatives in the most important arenas -- foreign policy, fiscal discipline, free-market economics, and judicial nominations. In that sense, the Forbes endorsement could be pivotal to McCain.
UPDATE: CapQ reader Sandeep Dath informs me that Ted Olson has become McCain's co-chair on his advisory panel on judicial nominations. That's a smart move, again more for a potential general-election run than for any effect on the primaries.
I would really like to see some speeches about ideas rather than endorsements.
I now hear that Ralph Nader is also thinking about running.
There is a suckers bet if ever there was once.
even blood oaths wouldn’t do it for me
Steve Forbes is a Republican “elitist” who is for amnesty for illegal immigrants for cheap labor purposes, and this is why he’s for John McCain!
I’m trying to understand why Ted Olson has been proclaimed as some great conservative. He has long supported California RINOs like Tom Campbell and Dan Lungren and seems to throw cash at folks like Arlen Specter, Susan Collins, Spencer Abraham and Bud Shuster . He may be a great attorney, but his preference in politicians stinks.
it is over.
mccain is the nominee and i am throwing my towel in with ann coulter.
mccain is old, unattrctive, has a very disturbing personality and he is has stuck a dagger into conservatives hearts for too many years.
Individual people run an economy -- these people are consumers, suppliers, and many times fill both roles. Government officials place hurdles in an economy and make it more difficult for the people to 'run it'. A best case scenario is that a congress removes hurdles but it typically does not do this because the electorate is dumb enough to believe that government is responsible for job creation, GDP growth, and the health of the economy that THE ELECORATE are, in fact, really running themselves. The only thing a president can do is make it harder for the congress to add to or clear the hurdles on the 'run track'.
For Fox to perpetuate such language is a disservice. For people like Steve Forbes, himself, to allow for the king of language to be used without correcting it on the spot, just shows how dumbed-down we've become and just how much proper education we'll need to get us back to where we should be.
Boycott all people endorsing McCain. Thats what I feel like doing.
I guess Steve Forbes is bored with publishing and wants a cabinet job.
And, like she says she will do, vote for H. Clinton if McCain is the Rublican nominee?
**Still, the Forbes nomination may go a long way towards convincing at least the fiscal conservatives to go with McCain in the general election — and that seems to be the contest on which McCain’s focused. **
Let’s follow this.
Whoopdee Freakin’ Doo!! Another Country Club Republican!
Forbes was just on Forbes on fox, explaining his reasons.
Basically, he feels McCain “gets it” on fiscal theory, and said he has surrounding himself with conservative economic theorists. He said that the “bullheadedness” McCain often exhibits, he will apply to cutting taxes and spending.
Maybe Forbes can help McCain’s broke campaign, but smart, fiscal conservatives will get behind Romney. No smart upper management type will want to see a flat broke and busted McCain going up against a well financed Hillary or Obama. They will ruin him.
What's this about Ann Coulter in a towel??
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.