Posted on 02/08/2008 6:12:07 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican John McCain plans to run a general election campaign as steadfast protector of the United States in the face of terrorism as well as a crusader against big government. The Democrats, he says, offer neither.
"They would govern this country in a way that will, in my opinion, take this country backward," the likely GOP nominee said this week in a speech to conservative activists that served as his opening argument for a fall showdown with either Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama.
With chief rival Mitt Romney out of the race, McCain is gearing up for the most wide-open presidential election in half a century and the first since 1960 in which a senator will win the White House.
As McCain pivots from the primary campaign to the general election, he not only must unite disaffected Republicans who view his independent streak warily but also lead a dispirited GOP against a far more energized Democratic Party.
Neither is a small task, Republicans say.
"He has between now and early November to get this worked out with conservatives. There won't be a 'big C' conservative in this country not on the campaign trail for him," said Rich Galen, a GOP strategist who advised former candidate Fred Thompson.
"The best thing that could happen is exactly what happened on the Republican side - getting a nominee early," Galen said.
One conservative on board is Thompson, who said late Friday he was endorsing his former rival.
"This is no longer about past preferences or differences. It is about what is best for our country and for me that means that Republican should close ranks behind John McCain," Thompson said in a statement.
Said Ralph Reed, a Republican strategist and former director of the Christian Coalition: "This is the most fired up I've ever seen the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. They're hungry and they want to win. If you're John McCain and you're going into that kind of a fall campaign, you need to have the intensity, the enthusiasm and the energy of the grass roots of your party."
To that end, McCain hopes his two broad campaign pillars - national security and spending restraint - as well as what he calls his differences with Clinton and Obama on other issues like taxes, health care and judges will bring longtime critics into the fold.
"We have profound philosophical differences. They are liberal Democrats and I am a conservative Republican," McCain frequently said of Obama and Clinton as he campaigned for the primaries - and laid the groundwork for his fall campaign.
He often claims that a country led by either Democrat would return to a time of a bloated bureaucracy and ignored overseas threats to U.S. security.
Democrats argue that McCain represents nothing more than a continuation of the Bush presidency.
"The more voters get to know the real John McCain the more they see him for the Bush Republican he is," said Damien LaVera, a Democratic National Committee spokesman. "A vote for McCain is a vote for four more years of the same failed Bush policies that have undermined our economy and made America less secure."
National security in general - and the Iraq war in particular - is emerging as a cornerstone of McCain's general election push.
"That is going to be, I think, a major issue in this campaign," McCain said Friday in Norfolk, Va. "They want to set a date for withdrawal from Iraq that I believe would have catastrophic consequences."
However, the country has been at war in Iraq for five years - and a majority of the public has turned against U.S. continued involvement.
Thus, McCain risks alienating independents and moderates, many of whom oppose continued U.S. involvement in the war and have helped McCain all but seize the nomination. His discussions about curbing global warming and protecting the environment could help offset their discontent.
As in the primary, McCain plans to draw on his Vietnam veteran biography and decades of experience on military matters to argue that he alone is the most qualified to be a wartime commander in chief. He long ago started contrasting his embrace of a continued troop presence in Iraq, for an indefinite period of time, with Democratic calls for withdrawal.
"Senator Clinton and Senator Obama will concede to our critics that our own actions to defend against its threats are responsible for fomenting the terrible evil of radical Islamic extremism, and their resolve to combat it will be as flawed as their judgment," McCain said in his Thursday speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference.
It's a soft-on-terror argument that Bush successfully used against Democratic nominee John Kerry in 2004, and one that could rally the Republican base around McCain's candidacy.
To shore up his wayward conservatives base as well as political independents, McCain also aims to score points with his battle against out-of-control federal spending and lawmakers' pet projects.
McCain has been a long time foe of congressional earmarks, fighting against the infamous bridge in Alaska, for example, and poking fun at Clinton for supporting $1 million for a museum commemorating the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
When it comes to earmarks, he says, "Not 10,000. Not one. Zero."
They are liberal Democrats and I am a conservative Republican,” McCain frequently said of Obama and Clinton as he campaigned for the primaries -
Yeah. and my wife is the president of Jupiter.
new tag.
” Republican John McCain plans to run a general election campaign as steadfast protector of the United States in the face of terrorism as well as a crusader against big government. The Democrats, he says, offer neither”
He just nulled and voided himself.
“”They would govern this country in a way that will, in my opinion, take this country backward,” “
Oh mclame, don’t be so hard on yourself. Let us do that dirty work.
Yep -- especially health care will get us all on board.
Take a look at this!!
One conservative on board is Thompson, who said late Friday he was endorsing his former rival.
“This is no longer about past preferences or differences. It is about what is best for our country and for me that means that Republican should close ranks behind John McCain,” Thompson said in a statement.
NOW I’m disappointed in Fred.
“One conservative on board is Thompson, who said late Friday he was endorsing his former rival. “
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I cannot believe it. The devil actually took hold of all that was good.
Oh, so Thompson has now endorsed McCain??????? I'd love to see the Thompson pushers squirm about this now.
McCain, may you go down in flames in the general election.
See post 7.
Which to me, makes it even worse. How on earth can I face my peeps at work tomorrow. How embarrassing for me. Thanks Thompson.
I can buy both claims by McCain. He can’t really focus on taxes, but he can call credibly for reductions in spending given his record. I just hope the majority of the country is for a stable Iraq and continued pressure on the terrorists. The anti-war Dems are definitely fired up right now.
I’m squirming, happy?
All he really needs to do is change his stance on illegal immigration concerning enforcement.
Until he does that he’s screwed from the right.
Thomspon is endorsing McCain?
“They would govern this country in a way that will, in my opinion, take this country backward,” the likely GOP nominee said this week in a speech to conservative activists that served as his opening argument for a fall showdown with either Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama.
—
contrast this with his.. Hillary would make a fine President comment.
What to believe?
One conservative on board is Thompson, who said late Friday he was endorsing his former rival.
"This is no longer about past preferences or differences. It is about what is best for our country and for me that means that Republican should close ranks behind John McCain," Thompson said in a statement.
Now WHY is this not in breaking news like every other "endorsement" has been throughout this circus? When did this happen?
As far as how Senator McCain should run, I hope he has the wisdom to list his pluses and minuses on two sheets of paper.
Contrary to most on FR, on of his strengths is he is the favorite Republican of the MSM and many Democrats. Rather than trying to be something he is not—a down the pipe, conservative—he should build on this strength by running against Hillary and Obama. He is no idealist and that is seen by most on this site as a liability, but in running a campaign it can be turned into an asset.
IMHO, he needs to focus as a realist rather than an idealist. All the true believers of either political spectrum will become enraged at the very thought of that, but it is the one approach than can give him victory in November.
Presently, he has not only won the primary, but according to Rasmussen he has the support of as many Republicans as Hillary does of Democrats.
Attempting to chase down and convert those who really hate him—as many do on this and other threads—is a waste of time and effort. Focus on what it takes to defeat either of the opponents he must face and begin now with that list.
Rasmussen shows Senator McCain leading Hillary (both are known quantities) while losing to Barack (an unknown except as to his race and antiwar sentiments). He should delineate his policy differences with both and particularly, if he is so fortunate, as Barack’s unbelievable liberal views. Indeed, it seems Barack has not really faced any kind of opposition (Alan Keyes) that had even the possibility of winning. Hillary has been flummoxed by Barack’s popularity and likability and she cannot reasonably attack him on policies since both have about the same views.
This will be an exciting election.
I’m waiting for the quids pro quo from McCain which will give his move to the right some credibility.
Apparently. Is there NO good left?
More entertained than happy. This slow train wreck over the next 4 years is going to be entertaining.
At this point, I'm afraid he is stuck with his history on the subject. Nothing he SAYS can be trusted to outweigh what he has DONE so heartily in the past.
I just thought he was better than that. Otherwise I would have sent that money to my credit card instead of him.
Im asking to get title modified and thread bumped up to either breaking or whatever.
If he should pick Romney and offer Huck a position in his cabinet, that would be his best chance. (OK anti-Romney haters, go at it. Remember what a spot you already put us in)
You guys are stark raving nuts. McCain is one of the strongest fiscal conservatives in the Senate. Strong on foreign policy. Willing to upate his thinking on amnesty. Pro-lifer. It doesn’t get any better, and may be a lot worse.
Oh well, do what you please, enjoy Obama.
It’s too soon Fred. Huckabee could still pull a miracle of Biblical proportions or McCain could, ummm, bow out.
PING for feces and giggles.
I figured this was going to happen. I did support Thompson briefly, but not enthusiastically, because I always figured he was just another member of the club.
THis is all new for me but I’m sure many others here have seen all this, been there done that type of thing. I figuratively slept thru the 90’s, too busy having and raising babies, etc.
WTH happened to the GOP? I seriously think McCain is going to get slaughtered in the general, regardless of the dem nom who I think is going to be Hillary.
Hunter supports huckabee and now thompson supports McCain. I was so wrong about both of the them. All that’s left is to sit back, drink beer and make popcorn while our country becomes a 3rd world socialist nation. WTF happened to our country?
Ugh, if the endorsement of Thompson can only make me think I was bamboozled by Thompson, there is no hope for me pulling that lever for mclame. Unless of course, he becomes a different person.
This ‘Thommpson pusher’ is disappointed in him not being the candidate, and disappointed that McCain is, even though I’ll be voting for him. I’m fine with Thompson’s endorsement. Some people feel we should get behind the nominee to keep the dems from the WH. If you don’t feel that way, that’s entirely your business.
ITA. Sucks.
Nice of the media to write off the electoral contribution of those who have not yet cast a ballot.
We’re watching the death of government of, by, and for the people.
A more manipulated, contrived election I have never seen.
“To that end, McCain hopes his two broad campaign pillars - national security and spending restraint -”
Good luck with that because illegal immigration impacts BOTH of those pillars BIGTIME.
He really does think we are stupid.
What a crock!
We need one page of these that are fronts and, one page of these for the backs, that we can print and cut, to fill the prepaid envelopes from the RNC and the ACU.
There will be a price to pay for supporting McCain.
We can vote conservative on Senate and House primary seats, and vote for anyone other than McCain on the Presidential seat, including a democrat in the general election.
Fred said "Republicans" not conservatives, which is a fair request for the party members and consistent.
Not that I am a Republican or will vote for McCain.
so is it AG Thompson, Secy of Defense Hunter and DHS head Tancredo.. or??
IF Fred has now endorsed McCain, I will sadly admit that I was wrong when I supported Fred. He obviously isn’t the man I thought he was and I was wrong about him.
Hey we can always sneak over the border to Mexico or Canada when the shi’ite hits the fan,, the border will likely be as porous then as it has been for years..
Never use McCain and credibility in the same sentence in a descriptive sense. McCain has not credibility.
Since all officers of the United States take an oath to protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, does that make any support by them for McCain a breach of their sworn oath?
Just a little food for thought...
*Now WHY is this not in breaking news like every other “endorsement*
Seems like it is under the radar.
Buy hey, Fred supported McCain in 2000
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