Management vs. leadership
Posted: Friday, January 25, 2008 4:15 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – In an effort to break the dead heat that seems to be developing between himself and Romney in most of the recent Florida polls, McCain subtly rolled out a new strategy last night: management vs. leadership.
Most of the GOP presidential candidates have tried this anti-Romney strategy at one point or another, but this morning McCain explained his version -- invoking the names of Ronald Reagan and Gen. David Petraeus as examples of true leaders. "I think everybody knows the difference between leadership and management," McCain told a group of reporters gathered at an airport here. "You can hire managers all the time, people who do the mechanics, people who implement policies, people who are good with assets. Leadership is people who inspire… Leadership is people who have had hands on experience with patriotism and service to the nation… Leadership is the ability to inspire and the ability to make Americans serve causes greater than their self-interest."
Asked what that description of leadership implied about his biggest opponent in Florida, McCain said, "Governor Romney is touting his qualities and his experience and resume as a manager. I am telling the American people that I am a leader and they know it."
McCain also talked about the implications of the endorsement he received today from the New York Times, adding to the ever-increasing laundry list of newspapers that have endorsed his candidacy. During last night's debate and in the email war that followed, some of the McCain's opponents implied that kind words from the New York Times are tantamount to weak conservative credentials.
"In the case of the Romney campaign, which is I understand the one that's making the most of [the New York Times endorsement]," McCain said. "In all due respect, I got the endorsement of both of his hometown newspapers -- the Boston Globe, which is known to be more liberal, and the Boston Herald, which is very conservative.
"We got the endorsement of all the people that know him best in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. I appreciate anyone's endorsement. Because I receive the endorsement of anyone does not mean that I necessarily share their views. It means, to me, the endorsement means that they think I'm best qualified for the nomination of my party."
