Posted on 10/30/2008 3:55:10 AM PDT by raybbr
Hartford - Locked in a tough re-election campaign in a district that overwhelmingly supports Barack Obama, Connecticut Rep. Christopher Shays has joined some fellow Republicans in publicly voicing frustration with John McCain's presidential campaign.
Shays told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the Republican nominee's campaign has gone too negative against Obama, and has muted his message of being an independent thinker with the best ideas and experience needed to solve the nation's problems.
Several other notable Republicans, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, have made statements similar to Shays' comments in recent weeks.
Some prominent Republicans, including former Massachusetts Gov. William F. Weld, have gone so far as to endorse Obama. Others are still standing behind McCain, but are expressing doubts that he can win.
McCain's campaign did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday.
Shays first expressed discontentment with McCain's campaign in an interview with the Yale Daily News on Sunday, when he blamed the far right for having “hijacked” the Republican Party.
He also told the newspaper that McCain “did not live up to his pledge to fight a clean campaign.”
Asked about Sunday's interview, Shays said he was giving honest answers to the questions.
”He is well behind and we know that,” Shays said of McCain. “He's behind because he's not running the kind of race we've seen him run.
”John McCain is different,” he said. “He goes to Iowa and says, 'I don't believe in (corn ethanol) price support.' He goes to Michigan and says, 'We can't keep making big cars.' That's the straight talk of John McCain.” With the tone of the campaign and Obama's lead in the polls, McCain will have a difficult time winning the presidency, Shays said, although he believes it's still possible.
”He's taken the thing that is most valuable, his (maverick) brand, and he's not staying true to it,” Shays said. “I admire John McCain more than you can imagine. He would make a great president.”
But, Shays added, “I don't see how he wins if he isn't true to who he is ... a straight shooter talking about the issues.”
Shays is co-chairman of McCain's Connecticut campaign along with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. He's also battling Democrat Jim Himes for the congressional seat representing wealthy southwestern Connecticut.
It's the third consecutive tough election for Shays, a moderate with a reputation of being independent-minded and bucking his party on some issues. Shays narrowly defeated Democrat Diane Farrell in 2004 and 2006 as Farrell criticized him for supporting the Iraq war and President Bush.
An Oct. 20 UConn-Hearst Newspapers poll shows Himes and Shays each supported by 44 percent of likely voters. The same poll showed voters in the district prefering Obama over McCain, 54 percent to 34 percent.
Shays is the only Republican representing New England in the House following Democratic wins in 2006.
Its called covering thy own ass.
Two words: useful idiot.
Flashback: Shays Shocker
Clinton Raped Broaddrick Twice.
http://www.nationalreview.com/nr_comment/nr_comment080200b.shtml
And Shays voted against impeachment!
And so, not liking your party’s campaign strategy, you give aid and comfort to a true danger like Obama? You ignore the issues, and focus only on style?
As if pointing out Obama’s associations and political leanings are not relevent, just plain mean. Give me a break. Does he think we’re ALL dumb?
No, a guy like Shays only supports McCain if McCain runs a LOSING campaign.
The “Great Divide” is not in the West.
LLS
Huh?
Hey, don’t ping me again.
Have a good day StatenIsland.
My very intelligent brother has an excellent idea. If a state has not delivered its electoral votes for the GOP in at least two of the last three elections, it should not be allowed to have an early primary. Why should Iowa and New Hampshire voters have such a huge say in who the nominee is when those states are far more liberal than the red states and don’t deliver for the Republican candidate in the general election? The states with the largest GOP vote percentages should hold their primaries first. Conservative states should not be stuck trying to sell a candidate chosen by a few early primaries in blue states.
(It goes without saying that ALL primaries should be closed so that Democrats do not choose the GOP nominee as they did in FL and VA this year.)
Shays has an abysmal record in Congress. His ACU rating is well under 50%.
Cindy, I’m sorry. I inadvertently pinged you when I meant to ping the author.
And in my post I was referring to Shays, of course - certainly NOT you.
Again, my apologies.
Apology accepted and ping anytime.
Shays told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the Republican nominee’s campaign has gone too negative against Obama,
Mr Shays it is IMPOSSIBLE to go to negative about a man as dangerous to America as Obama. Shame on you..
Doing the media’s job is hard work and it requires someone who has a spine. Chris Shays does not qualify.
This POS admitted that he believed Clinton had committed rape, but voted against impeachment.
(Chris, that means you.).
I'll never forget how he kept us wondering what he'd do.
I don't want to see it, but Shays deserves to go down with the ship.
sw
Going negative against Obama seems to be the only thing that’s working. Conservatives are less than thrilled with McCain to begin with and McCain needs to keep our anger focused on Obama.
Going negative against Obama in CT is a problem for any politician. The electorate, in general, is too dumb or enamored of the "one" for it to have any positive effect.
There are three types of voters in CT:
Voters like us who are informed.
Mouth breathing, booger eating mind numbed dolts who refuse to think for themselves.
And, the liberal elite who think that people like Rosa DeLauro are good for America because they sashay in the same circles.
Shays can go the way of Chaffee for all I care.
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