Political Diary (McCain campaign revving up)

wsj ^ | July 4, 2008

[dennisw]

The Terminator's Terminator The John McCain campaign decided it had to do something completely different on Wednesday as it finally reacted to a chorus of complaints that its message was muddled, its public events uneven and its organization lagging. It installed Steve Schmidt, until now an ultraintense counselor to the campaign, as its operations manager.

Mr. Schmidt has a reputation for ruthless efficiency, a take-no-prisoners campaign style and ability to inspire confidence in subordinates. Karl Rove once dubbed him "The Bullet," a reference to both the shape of his shaved head and his lethal impact when deployed against opponents. He will report to Rick Davis, who will remain the campaign manager but will now focus on fundraising and the upcoming national convention. Mr. Schmidt will take charge of the candidate's schedule, ad buys, policy position development and get-out-the vote efforts.

"It's late in happening, but this now means a campaign that will be going on all eight cylinders," says one Republican consultant who had become increasingly gloomy about Mr. McCain's prospects. "McCain is the comeback kid. Recall that a year ago he shook up his staff completely and eventually to the surprise of almost all won the nomination."

Starting with a stint on Capitol Hill as communications director for the House Republican campaign effort, the 37-year-old Mr. Schmidt has had a meteoric rise in politics. He became a counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, where he helped shepherd the Supreme Court nominations of John Roberts and Sam Alito through the Senate. He then took on the task of running Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign in California.

As an old Navy aviator, Mr. McCain knows how important morale is to the success of an operation. His staff shakeup has certainly improved spirits among the donors and GOP insiders I spoke with.

[dennisw]

The miracle man.  He better get the campaign into slash and burn mode fast. Arrogant Obama needs to be sullied and torn apart all summer long

[Abbeville Conservative]

Hope “the bullet” hits his mark and Obama goes down.

[God luvs America]

agreed...for all the history, tingly feelings, fawning by the media, dismissing the contreversy and everything else what does hussien have to show for it??? a 5pt lead...

this is McCain’s to lose at this point and thus far he’s doing exactly that...

[Names Ash Housewares]

Bare in mind the leader in the polls at this point in time, in the last five elections. Four of those five leaders went on to lose. Leading early is not always a good thing.

I do expect that McCain will win.

[God luvs America]

While McCain has his warts- I PRAY to God you are right...

[Republican Wildcat]

Past due. Cowering at the prospect at being called a “racist” should not deter McCain from speaking his mind. He should have held a press conference right after Obama’s speech declaring that criticisms will be racist and said “Mr. Obama - if you want to call me a racist just for disagreeing with you - you can bring it on.” Instead he’s tried the “new tone” business. Well...love him or hate him, that’s not who McCain is, so he shouldn’t act like it.

[Reagan Man]

Okay, now McCain has a so-called bulldog running his campaign, its time to go on the offensive.

Steve Schmidt should inform McCain that its time to stop protecting ANWR and publicly demand that it be opened up for drilling. Followed immediately by focused attacks on Obama’s political liberalism. Starting with exposing Obama’s recent flips on FISA, public financing, DC gun ban, welfare reform, telecommunications wiretap immunity, faith based funding and the Iraq war.

[Sam Gamgee]

When you look at the close states that Obama has there are only held by him by a margin of 1 to 4%. It won't take much of a shift.