Posted on 07/18/2010 11:00:40 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
TUCSON, Ariz. – Fighting the last war is supposed to be a bad idea. For Sen. John McCain, it might end up being the path to reelection.
As he faces a smashmouth Republican primary challenge in the shape of former congressman and radio talk show host J.D. Hayworth, McCain seems to be reliving his 2008 campaign experience--competing with a younger, more charismatic opponent whom he transparently does not like. He’s even still dodging criticism about an aimless and dull presidential campaign.
And listening to McCain himself, it’s sometimes hard to tell that he’s not literally still running against Barack Obama.
At a pair of debates in Phoenix and Tucson this weekend, McCain refrained from matching Hayworth blow for blow and instead aimed many of his punches at a man who is not on the ballot.
When Hayworth attacked him for supporting the 2008 bank bailouts, McCain blasted the Obama administration for “committing generational theft.” When he was accused of supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants, McCain repeatedly blamed Obama for failing to secure the border. On Afghanistan, the Arizona senator called Obama an “uncertain trumpet.”
Other embattled incumbents this year–-Democrats Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania and Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas, and Republican Bob Bennett in Utah-–attempted to survive difficult primaries by casting themselves as strong advocates for their states. McCain, however, only gestures in that direction, campaigning instead as the national politician that he is and casting himself as the leader of a resistance movement that extends well beyond the Arizona border.
“I am proud of the leadership position I have taken fighting this administration,” McCain said at the Phoenix debate Friday.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I hope it ends for McCain the same way his 2008 campaign ended - in overwhelming defeat.
Good for you and THANK YOU! Every little bit helps. I just hope that the whole population of AZ saw at least SOME of the debate. If they did (and they had a few good brain cells) there's NO WAY they could vote for *the old guy*.
“Everybody here today supporting John McCain, we’re all part of that tea party movement.”
- Sarah Palin, Mar. 26, 2010
The McCain camp’s “nemesis” in 2008 was “winning”. Leastwise it seemed that way to me. A pity he chucked his aversion to victory for this election.
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