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McCain Sets Sights on Moderates
The Washington Times ^ | May 2, 2008 | Ralph Z. Hallow and Stephan Dinan

Posted on 05/02/2008 2:11:06 PM PDT by JSDude1

Faced with a crumbling Republican Party image, Sen. John McCain is gambling on a general-election strategy that relies on winning over conservative Democrats and independents, breaking with President Bush's 2000 and 2004 game plan of focusing on the party's core voters.

"This time, we are working to get a larger share than normal of independents and conservative Democrats, mainly because our own base is narrower than four years ago," said McCain campaign senior adviser Charles Black, who has been a part of every GOP presidential campaign since Ronald Reagan's nomination run in 1976.

The Arizona senator has spent his time campaigning on Democrats' ground

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; conservative; independentvote; mccain; president; republican; rino
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If this is true, then I will SURELY Vote CONSTITUTION Party in the Fall! Good Bye McCain, and technocratic (bureaucratic and socialist) Republicans.
1 posted on 05/02/2008 2:11:07 PM PDT by JSDude1
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To: JSDude1

“mainly because our own base is narrower than four years ago,”

No, McCain’s base IS conservative-leaning democrats and independents, not Republicans or conservatives.

The conservative base is still there. Tis is shaping up to be a calamity. An intersting calamity, though, pass the popcorn!


2 posted on 05/02/2008 2:14:39 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: JSDude1

Chuck Baldwin wrote a piece called “If I Were President,” here:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2008/cbarchive_20080502.html


3 posted on 05/02/2008 2:15:12 PM PDT by DivaDelMar (CRAm member-- (Conservative Republicans Against mcCain) Think you're entitled to my vote? CRAm It!!!)
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To: JSDude1

4 posted on 05/02/2008 2:15:50 PM PDT by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: JSDude1
"This time, we are working to get a larger share than normal of independents and conservative Democrats, mainly because our own base is narrower than four years ago," said McCain campaign senior adviser Charles Black

Why might that be, Chuck?

5 posted on 05/02/2008 2:16:35 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: DivaDelMar

Baldwin is wrong. Saddam was a present danger in the Middle East. We are better off with him gone.


6 posted on 05/02/2008 2:17:44 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat (Just Say Nobama!)
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To: JSDude1

Let him try fundraising with Moderates and conservative Democrats.


7 posted on 05/02/2008 2:18:50 PM PDT by Vigilanteman ((Are there any men left in Washington? Or are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud))
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To: JSDude1

lol. Why waste the gas going to the polls to vote for the loser no one’s ever heard of party? Why not just stay home?


8 posted on 05/02/2008 2:22:59 PM PDT by Huck (Watching the DEMs come down the stretch is like watching the Mets come down the stretch!)
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To: Vigilanteman

Let him try organizing the get out the vote with moderates and conservative democrats.


9 posted on 05/02/2008 2:23:04 PM PDT by samtheman
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To: Recovering_Democrat

I tend to agree. No party is perfect, but the Republicans have gotten the last vote from me, last dime from me and last bit of time from me until they return to conservative principles. I cannot support the Republicans financially or with my vote, but I sure can’t vote for the Democrat either. CP is the best fit, for now.


10 posted on 05/02/2008 2:23:23 PM PDT by DivaDelMar (CRAm member-- (Conservative Republicans Against mcCain) Think you're entitled to my vote? CRAm It!!!)
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To: Huck
>Why not just stay home?

Unless something weird
happens, a 'Rat will be prez.
Stay home. Watch cartoons.

11 posted on 05/02/2008 2:25:38 PM PDT by theFIRMbss
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To: JSDude1
Sadly, one of these idiots is going to win.




12 posted on 05/02/2008 2:26:06 PM PDT by glock rocks ( Woof.)
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: JSDude1
Hey!
Conservative Pubbies!

McCain is still giving you the finger.

Sen. John McCain is gambling on a general-election strategy that relies on winning over conservative Democrats and independents, breaking with President Bush's 2000 and 2004 game plan of focusing on the party's core voters.

So, if he does win, where will his loyalties be? Certainly not to Republican Conservatives.
14 posted on 05/02/2008 2:28:39 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: DivaDelMar

I can’t totally abandon the GOP. My Congressman and two Texas Senators deserve my support 100%


15 posted on 05/02/2008 2:29:52 PM PDT by lormand (Let's all be mavericks now)
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To: TomGuy

It’s getting awful crowded under the bus.


16 posted on 05/02/2008 2:30:30 PM PDT by rightwingcrazy
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To: JSDude1
"We intend to beat them to the center," he said. (he = RNC deputy chairman.

... by abandoning the right. (He left off part.)

17 posted on 05/02/2008 2:30:49 PM PDT by Ingtar (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery. - ejonesie22)
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To: Huck

You’d rather those of us that will not vote for McCain stay home than vote for Conservatives in the House, Senate, and other races?


18 posted on 05/02/2008 2:32:00 PM PDT by Ingtar (Haley Barbour 2012, Because he has experience in Disaster Recovery. - ejonesie22)
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To: JSDude1
Why doesn't this man just switch parties officially, and be done with it? I am sick of him.
19 posted on 05/02/2008 2:33:09 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: JSDude1

“McCain Sets Sights on Moderates”

What is he doing? Looking in the mirror?


20 posted on 05/02/2008 2:35:31 PM PDT by Tex Pete (Obama for Change: from our pockets, our piggy banks, and our couch cushions!)
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To: windsorknot
Why doesn't this man just switch parties officially, and be done with it? I am sick of him.

Yep.

He considered it in 2000 after his primary loss. He considered it in 2004 by hoping to be Kerry's VP nominee.

At least Jeffers had the cajones to do it. McCain is playing both sides against the middle.
21 posted on 05/02/2008 2:35:42 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: TomGuy

“So, if he does win, where will his loyalties be? Certainly not to Republican Conservatives. “

Never has been, why would he start now?


22 posted on 05/02/2008 2:36:02 PM PDT by AuntB ('If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." T. Paine)
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To: JSDude1

McCain thinks we’ll vote for him just because we don’t like the dem candidate?
He’s got another thing coming.


23 posted on 05/02/2008 2:36:57 PM PDT by griswold3 (Al queda is guilty of hirabah (war against society) Penalty is death.)
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To: JSDude1

“McCain Sets Sights on Moderates”

Oh the shock (she said in a mono-tone voice).


24 posted on 05/02/2008 2:40:36 PM PDT by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: glock rocks

yuck, yuck, yuck!!!

In times such as these we end up with the Three Stooges.


25 posted on 05/02/2008 2:41:22 PM PDT by griswold3 (Al queda is guilty of hirabah (war against society) Penalty is death.)
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To: JSDude1

We have to admit that turning a Moderate from the Dims is worth twice as much as turning out a Rupublican Conservative...


26 posted on 05/02/2008 2:41:23 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (This is an Obama-nation!)
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To: JSDude1
"The Arizona senator has spent his time campaigning on Democrats' ground."

McLame

27 posted on 05/02/2008 2:44:37 PM PDT by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: Huck; JSDude1
lol. Why waste the gas going to the polls to vote for the loser no one’s ever heard of party? Why not just stay home?

Because supporting a third-party:

1) Tells your party that they had a shot at your vote but failed to get it.
2) Provides (a tiny amount of) exposure to the third-party guy.
3) Provides (a tiny amount of) funding to the third-party.

28 posted on 05/02/2008 2:45:35 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (This is an Obama-nation!)
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To: theFIRMbss
">Why not just stay home?"

Unless something weird

happens, a 'Rat will be prez.

Stay home. Watch cartoons.

I will be drinking wine and shedding a tear.

29 posted on 05/02/2008 2:48:30 PM PDT by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: glock rocks

The Three Stooges are highly offended. ;>)


30 posted on 05/02/2008 2:48:45 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: windsorknot

He can’t stick it to us as good as he can if he did.


31 posted on 05/02/2008 2:50:03 PM PDT by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: JSDude1

That’s strange. There was an unprecedentedly large and growing conservative base in 2004. It only started to decline after the Republicans decided to kick their base in the teeth.

Bush and the Republicans won the 2004 election with so much momentum, especially from southern Evangelicals who hadn’t voted in earlier elections, that hillary started waving her Bible around and saying that maybe she would compromise on abortion.

Then Bush and the RNC kicked it all away. But it must be said, McCain is a LOT worse than Bush ever dreamed of being! And this man is a fool—like all the other campaign workers who have climbed on board the Straight Talk Express.


32 posted on 05/02/2008 2:50:45 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: NoGrayZone
>I will be drinking wine and shedding a tear

Yes, but the good news
is with Hillary in charge
or vice, the forum

will pull together.
The next election cycle
will be much different . . .

33 posted on 05/02/2008 2:51:29 PM PDT by theFIRMbss
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To: windsorknot

They’re dead... so they won’t be voting Republican.


34 posted on 05/02/2008 2:52:18 PM PDT by glock rocks ( Woof.)
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To: Cicero
"especially from southern Evangelicals who hadn’t voted in earlier elections, that hillary started waving her Bible around and saying that maybe she would compromise on abortion."

LMAO!!!!!! That one made me laugh out loud, thanks!

35 posted on 05/02/2008 2:52:51 PM PDT by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: theFIRMbss

Very very true. I would NEVER throw my vote to her, but I’m sure as heck wishing (no, hoping)she gets it.


36 posted on 05/02/2008 2:55:06 PM PDT by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: JSDude1

So I guess that Straight Talk Express bus trip to CPAC was a big waste of time, effort and money after all. All that posturing when he could have been out there campaigning to his real base of moderate democrats and “undecided” voters.


37 posted on 05/02/2008 3:02:32 PM PDT by TADSLOS (John McCain for President of the League of Democracies. No borders required.)
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To: theFIRMbss
Yes, but the good news
is with Hillary in charge
or vice, the forum

will pull together.
The next election cycle
will be much different . . .

Probably the best outcome right there... along with the election of some real conservatives to congress... what else is there?

38 posted on 05/02/2008 3:14:33 PM PDT by glock rocks ( Woof.)
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To: Huck

“Why not just stay home?”

because there are deserving Republicans on the ballot. besides, the left will infiltrate your town from dogcatcher to mayor if you stay home. How about the school board? If you stay home some Alinsky-quoting Maoist will be the chairman.

Go and vote, the choice of president is up to you, but don’t abandon the conservatives in your local area.


39 posted on 05/02/2008 3:17:59 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: JSDude1

I hope and pray that I have a good 3rd party candidate to support during the election. All three candidates turn my stomach and I refuse to vote for someone lik McCain simply because I am “fearful” of a democrat president might do.


40 posted on 05/02/2008 3:20:58 PM PDT by BeckB
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To: JSDude1

What a stupid, stupid statement. What else can he do to alienate conservatives? Sometimes I think his handlers are Hillary! or Obama plants.


41 posted on 05/02/2008 3:25:22 PM PDT by Magnolia
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To: JSDude1

The article doesn’t even mention evangelicals, who are a huge Republican voting block. The only way I see McCain getting them this year is to make Huckashmuck his VP, and maybe not even then. Of all the traditional Republican voting blocks the evangelicals are the most likely to stay home if they perceive a candidate to be unworthy.

Without the evangelicals, the Pubbie loses, period, and so far McCain has done nothing to appeal to them other than snuggle up to Hagee, which may, ironically, push away the conservative Catholic vote he needs to win in PA and OH.

McCain is reaching for the mushy middle voters, but if he doesn’t get them, in droves, he’s toast. And I fully expect that if Hillary’s the nominee, she will run to the right of McCain and snatch away those votes.


42 posted on 05/02/2008 3:31:43 PM PDT by LadyNavyVet (The NC GOP is McCain's maverick.)
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To: JSDude1
mclame is so incredibly stupid that I can't even put words to it.

I turn the channel just as fast when he is going to speak as when the RATS are about to open their mouthes.

I'll vote in November, but not for him.

43 posted on 05/02/2008 3:39:22 PM PDT by mombonn (God is looking for spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.)
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To: JSDude1

We need a conservative to run. Let the two liberals split the liberal vote.


44 posted on 05/02/2008 3:43:44 PM PDT by Haddit (A Hunter Conservative)
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To: JSDude1

This election will be a “good conscience” vote for me.

Heck, I’d rather give my vote to Ron Paul than a RINO. He is still in it, you know.


45 posted on 05/02/2008 3:50:47 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: glock rocks

Smiling, he reached out to shake hands with the Conservative voter. When they were shaking hands, he gripped the excited voters hand tighter. Still smiling broadly, he pulled the man closer and smoothly buried his knife into the ignorant voters stomach. This was the mark of a confident politician. At the same time it was unusual, for he was well known throughout the halls of Congress as a sneaky backstabber.


46 posted on 05/02/2008 4:13:18 PM PDT by B4Ranch (( If you ever need a gun but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.))
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To: rightwingcrazy

>It’s getting awful crowded under the bus.<

So true.


47 posted on 05/02/2008 4:15:45 PM PDT by B4Ranch (( If you ever need a gun but don't have one, you'll probably never need one again.))
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To: samtheman
Let him try organizing the get out the vote with moderates and conservative democrats.

When he calls for $$$ tell him to go to the moderate and conservative democrats (whoever the hell they are supposed to be )
48 posted on 05/02/2008 4:24:15 PM PDT by uncbob
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To: uncbob

Everytime anyone from the Republican Party, RNC, etc. calls our house I tell them to get their $ from their real constituency....illegal aliens. I follow up with....good luck with that.


49 posted on 05/02/2008 5:55:56 PM PDT by sheana
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To: uncbob

When the McCain campaign calls me, I’m going to be honest with them. I’m a Republican who cannot support John McCain.


50 posted on 05/02/2008 5:56:40 PM PDT by samtheman
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