McCain: Reshaping the RNC

Posted: Friday, March 07, 2008 9:03 AM by Mark Murray

Politico's Martin reports John McCain is putting his imprint on the RNC. Frank Donatelli will serve as the new deputy chair of the RNC and will serve as the chief liaison between the committee and the campaign. Leading the so-called Victory organization will be Carly Fiorina. "The former CEO of Hewlett-Packard got behind McCain early on and has been a frequent surrogate. She also traveled with him in Michigan and helped carry his economic message there."

Leading the fundraising effort for the Victory operation will be Lew Eisenberg, a former partner at Goldman Sachs and longtime Republican donor. And helping the RNC and Victory effort will be former Giuliani campaign manager Mike DuHaime. He may not be rolled out tomorrow, but DuHaime will play a key role in working on the political side, advising on voter contact and GOTV strategy.

The Los Angeles Times does the history of the McCain comeback, and notes how the team of Rick Davis, Charlie Black, Mark Salter, Steve Schmidt and Mark McKinnon, have become really tight.

Reuters: “The danger is that the epic struggle between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton over their party's presidential nomination will dominate the news and turn McCain into a side issue. It is a subject that concerns McCain's advisers, but they believe they will be able to keep sufficient focus on the Arizona senator while at the same time raise some much needed campaign cash and work on bringing the Republican Party together behind him. ‘You have to be concerned about it,’ said senior McCain adviser Charlie Black. ‘But I think the answer is we have to go out and make news.’”

By the way, is Ron Paul finally getting out of the race? Apparently, if one interprets his YouTube in a certain way.

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Comments

Lol Looks like Hillary has bought the press and media too,what a hatchet job.Maybe if you can't report objectivly you should get another job have no problem on anyone reporting on both the excesses and achievment,as long as its done in a fair manner...

Robert (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 10:07 AM)

bush and repubs economic policies have put America in the worst financial shape in over 20 years, mccant will be more of the same, elect dems in house, senate and wh and save America from repub ruin.

thats a fact jack (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 10:40 AM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
Oh he's reshaping alright. He's going to get rid of any vestiges of the conservative movement and squeeze even more lobbyist into the 'Straight Talk Express'.

twocanpete (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 10:52 AM)

"The danger is that the epic struggle between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton over their party's presidential nomination will dominate the news and turn McCain into a side issue."
--I would advise Sen. McCain and the RNC to take a 'nice tact'. Rather than try to score political point, they should make Sen. McCain a relief choice from the bickersons. Define himself as a uniter and a leader. Let the Democrats define themselves, as they are doing the RNC's job for them.
--Stay vague: no war talk, no economy talk--build up talking points for the fall and hit the Democratic candidate with well-prepared policy then. But he can use the positive image against Clinton easily--as she has not and has not tried for one. And the longer the Dems quarrel, the better chance he'd have against Obama, plus he'd have his policy talking points well-prepared and staked out.
--He has nothing to gain by giving his entire hand away now.

--Luckily for the Democrats, the Republicans to often default to Clintonian tactics. Ha!

Nicholas: Minnesota (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 11:23 AM)

3 things that count in a president, Honesty, Integrity and experience, John McCain has all 3, even Hillary and Obama agree with that, how many of them exist with Hillary or Obama? All the posts I read from Dems seem to say neither one of them has what it takes.

Marty CR Iowa (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 11:28 AM)

This is all the Democrats have to do to win:

Make a commercial with Prezidunt bush saying:

"I looked into Mr. Putin's eyes...blah blah."
"You're doing a heck of a job, Brownie."
Thenn cut to that ridiculous spectacle of bush hooking his thumb at McCain and saying how he supports "this guy." The drooling little chimp didn't even address him by name: "I support this guy."

Just run against bush and they have it, and why not? McCain is just the 3rd term for the worst administration we've ever had.

Lee in CA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:08 PM)

McCain has Honesty, Integrity & Experience? I'm going to call BS on that one. He has Experience and that's it.

McCain is a flat out liar, and he even cheated on his first wife multiple times (possibly his second wife as well)....that means he has zero Integrity. I know Republicans think you can do anything you want as long as you disavow it later as being 'sinful', but that's dishonest garbage. I've never cheated on ANYONE, you know why? Because I'm not a POS like McCain or Bill Clinton.

Facts are facts, but go ahead and think that McWar has all 3 of those qualities if you want. All of you Republicans thought that Bush had those 3 qualities as well, and look how things have turned out.

I'd have to say that Republicans are in NO POSITION to be telling anyone else who is qualified for the White House. After this 7 year DISASTER with Bush, you should just shut your mouths and go away with your tail between your legs.

Matt, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:08 PM)

John McCain does not have a creative thought rumbling around in all those dead brain cells. Even in his prime, he graduated college near the bottom of his class. He surely is not in his prime now, and if you pay any attention to him when he reads from his teleprompter you will notice subtle little lapses that should cause concern in all of us. In addition to "...honesty,integrity, and experience" a president should an intelligent person (refer to Dubya). Besides that, Hillary seemingly fallen "under his spell" claiming he has more in common with her politically than Barak Obama. Is she buttering him up to be his running mate? It sure seems that way.

A.Brocco, Albuquerque,NM (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 12:30 PM)

I don't understand why all you Demacrats compare McCain to Bush. McCain is NOT George Bush! I firmly believe that had McCain been elected in 200 we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now. The worst thing for our country now is a TAX AND SPEND LIBERAL! We all know the Clinton's are LIARS, and Obama aligns himself with a racist church, and is more LIBERAL than "Billary". WAKE UP AMERICA!

FREE AND THE BRAVE USA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 1:09 PM)

Three things that makes a President, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, CREDIBILITY, RIGHT JUDGEMENT TO MAKE THE CORRECT DECISION, UNIFYING THE COUNTRY AND NOT DIVIDING AND OBAMA HAS ALL.

wise08, IL (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 1:11 PM)

Well put, Matt from Las Vegas.

I find it telling that powers behind the scenes are calling the shots: Get Romney out of the picture so we can get the "lock-stepping" started

Think for yourself, Kill Your TV

You're either with Big Oil or your against it!

Greg R., Spokane, WA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 1:18 PM)

All the RNC will have to do is run ads of Obama, and Hillary mouthing off about each other. Then there's all those wonderful clips of Durbin, Murtha, Harry Reid etc etc etc.

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 1:23 PM)

If John McCain selects Mike Huckabee for his vice presidential running mate. Each of these candidates have different strengths and would be an unbeatable team. Adding Mike Huckabee to the ticket would be the edge the Republican party needs. McCain/Huckabee in 2008.

Sandra AP MI (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 1:35 PM)

http://www.uhuh.com/clinton/list-cli.htm#HillaryExpl

wise08, IL (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 2:34 PM)

You wish, Dave. No one has a finer collection of assinine statements and outright lies than bUSH.

Lee in CA (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 2:55 PM)

"Adding Mike Huckabee to the ticket would be the edge the Republican party needs."

Only if the repubs are looking for the edge of a cliff to jump off. That would be the WORST combination for this country. Two liars, poor mix of "experience", both clueless on fiscal conservatism and how to help the economy, both flip flopping on immigration (both have supported amnesty), both with questionable ethics, both with LAME educational background (Mccain was bottom of his class, Huck never got past his religion BA)... etc.

obvious (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 3:52 PM)

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