GOP Embraces McCain, Discards Bush

Reuters ^ | June 15, 2008

[Free ThinkerNY]

John McCain has cursed and bullied fellow Senate Republicans on a host of issues over the years. Yet McCain's colleagues are setting aside any hard feelings to embrace his White House bid -- for their own good.

In doing so, many are also distancing themselves from Republican President George W. Bush, widely derided for the unpopular Iraq war, ailing economy and soaring gas prices.

"We are going from rallying around one of the most disliked guys in the world, to a guy who is very well liked in America, but not so popular in the Senate," a Senate Republican leadership aide said. "We'll take that."

Republicans hope McCain, long popular among independents, will give them a boost and hold down anticipated Democratic gains in the November congressional elections.

A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC Poll found that Democrats enjoy a 19-percentage-point lead over Republicans, 52-33, when voters are asked which party they want to control Congress.

By contrast, polls show Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama holding, on average, about a 5-point lead over McCain.

"McCain is running well ahead of his party," said Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center, which conducts polls on the congressional and presidential contests.

While Bush's approval rating has dipped below 30 percent, a recent Pew poll found 48 percent of respondents have a favorable opinion of McCain, with about 45 percent unfavorable, despite his dogged support of the Iraq war.

"Republicans have a stake in McCain," said Stephen Hess, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution. "They hope he helps energize their party."

[the invisib1e hand]

o reuters, you're such drama queens.

President Bush isn't running for president any more.

[benjamin032]

And you ask what’s wrong with the Party.

[andy58-in-nh]

"Republicans have a stake in McCain," said Stephen Hess, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution. "They hope he helps energize their party."

Bwwwwahhhhhahhhahh!!!!

[avacado]

Is that article supposed to be journalism? Looks like a BDS Festival to me.

[freekitty]

LOL

[TomGuy]

President Bush isn't running for president any more.

He isn't, but he (and his low approval numbers) will have a signficant impact on the election.

The RNC has already conceded they will lose Senate and House seats. And in the smoke-filled back rooms, they are contemplating that they very probably will lose the White House, too.

But Bush isn't running.

[NewJerseyJoe]

> GOP Embraces McCain

That should be a warning to all the "conservatives" who think they're going to be able to 'work from within' under a Pres. McCain....

[TomGuy]

"They hope he helps energize their party."

If all the electorate had is McCain, it would be a snooze-fest.

That is going to be one of the major factors -- Obama rouses the crowds; McCain puts them to sleep.

[Kozak]

GOP 08 Convention

[the anti-liberal]

I think the main reason his numbers are low is due to the BDS in the MSM.

Personally.

[TommyDale]

Headline should be

GOP Embraces McCain, Discards Evangelicals

[NoGrayZone]

"In doing so, many are also distancing themselves from Republican President George W. Bush, widely derided for the unpopular Iraq war, ailing economy and soaring gas prices."

Absolutely disgusting. And they wonder why the party is falling apart? They can....

[A message]

I think the main reason his numbers are low is due to the BDS in the MSM.

I solidly agree.

1) President Bush has done very well protecting the nation following the 9-11 attack.

2) Despite the 9-11 attack for most of his two terms the economy posted GDP numbers the Euros only dream about.

3) Our do nothing Congress is to blame about gas prices with their handicapping our nation from recovering resources within our own boundaries.

4) He held us even as possible on Supreme Court appointments with two solid judges in Alito and Roberts.

[NoGrayZone]

"Republicans have a stake in McCain," said Stephen Hess, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution. "They hope he helps energize their party."

Yeah, energize us to form a NEW party.

[TomGuy]

I think the main reason his numbers are low is due to the BDS in the MSM.

His continually trying to push through amnesty for illegals, his open borders, his Dubai ports deal, his Miers nomination...those didn't help either.

Bush burned himself, like McCain is doing, by turning against his base.

If McCain did win, he would probably start January 20, 2009 with the lowest approval numbers of any newly elected president in history.

Then, he would have to try to govern with low approval ratings and a Dem-controlled Congress. It ain't gonna be pretty.

[NoGrayZone]

Good point.

[Liberty 275]

While Bush’s approval rating has dipped below 30 percent... congress is at 15%.

As for Bush, in general the GOP still loves him. I think he has been and still is a great president.

[TomGuy]

4) He held us even as possible on Supreme Court appointments with two solid judges in Alito and Roberts.

How quickly the historical revisionists forget.

Alito wasn't a solid pick--not until after the Mier fiasco, which took massive outrage (cards, letters, emails, phone calls) to correct.