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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Regional Campaign Managers remain

Posted: Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:29 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
McCain adviser Steve Schmidt affirmed in a memo to the campaign's Regional Campaign Managers that they are keeping their jobs, but that he is also adding two new positions -- a political director and field director to the RNC -- to coordinate with them.

"In order to strengthen our regional operations and provide better coordination between our headquarters and the regions, we are going to be adding a Political Director and a Field Director to our headquarters organization," Schmidt writes in the memo. "These individuals will work with all of you and with Christian Ferry to increase our capacity to reach out to voters, build coalitions, identify supporters, and ultimately turn them out to the polls on November 4. We will be enhancing our headquarters political capacity to provide additional resources to you and your regions."

Here's the full memo:

MEMORANDUM
 
TO: Regional Campaign Managers
FROM: Steve Schmidt
DATE: July 3, 2008
SUBJECT: Regional Operations

With 124 days to go until the election, our campaign is now leaning more and more on your regional operations to continue Senator McCain’s success and growth.  Over the last month when we began deploying our field operations, you have done a fantastic job of opening the 11 regional offices in key states, staffing those offices with over 70 staff, and deploying 17 state directors across the country.  You have built statewide and county leadership teams in the targeted states and in the coming months will even further develop our organizations to the precinct level in every state that will decide this election.  It is an incredible amount of progress for a campaign that ended the primaries with no money, little infrastructure, and no formal organization outside the early primary states.
 
In addition, you have successfully worked with the Republican National Committee through the Victory effort to open 84 offices and put 113 staff into the field.  Hundreds more field staff will be hitting the ground in the coming weeks and more Victory Centers opening, all of which will work together with our regional campaign managers and the RNC regional political directors to help elect John McCain and Republicans around the country.
 
In order to strengthen our regional operations and provide better coordination between our headquarters and the regions, we are going to be adding a Political Director and a Field Director to our headquarters organization.  These individuals will work with all of you and with Christian Ferry to increase our capacity to reach out to voters, build coalitions, identify supporters, and ultimately turn them out to the polls on November 4.  We will be enhancing our headquarters political capacity to provide additional resources to you and your regions.
 
The organizations you are leading are providing important coordination in the field between all the various aspects of our campaign - whether that is political organization, finance, surrogates, communications, coalitions etc.  In the days ahead, we will be working to enhance and strengthen the coordination between all these aspects of the campaign.  By putting emphasis on our regional operations and hiring experienced managers such as you, we have built a campaign that will be nimble when it counts and close to the ground where grassroots activity will drive our message and efforts. 
 
We have all been involved in presidential campaigns in the past, but this campaign is special because of the unique honor of working for a candidate like John McCain -- a man who never surrenders.  With 124 days to go, we have one job -- electing John McCain the next President of the United States.  I am confident that with our team, we will get the job done.
 
###

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Comments

So much for recycling the "Ready on Day 1" slogan . . . maybe the McCain campaign is ready now?
I guess it should come as no surprise that a Rove acolyte will run McCain's campaign. So much for the "respectful campaign" promise McCain made and promptly forgot.
http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
Send in the lobbyist!
This seems like an ad for McCain. When it was Clinton, all we heard about was mismanagement. I would think squandering a 3 month advantage over a political star like Obama would be huge news. The liberal media is doing FoxNews work for them by downplaying this. Just because McCain came back against those weak republicans, doesn't mean his poor performance & judgement should not be analyzed against Obama. Just as his military record is indicative of his character as president, so too is a poorly run campaign. If he can waste 3/8ths of campaign he can waste 3/8ths of a presidency.
Obama's strategy is working!  Make the RNC have to spend more money.  Good job - Obama!

Adding to the bureaucracy of the campaign will not help. There is no getting around the fact that McCain himself is a poor manager and that he has surrounded himself with people only interested in furthering their own reputations and careers.

Obama on the other hand has shown brilliant management skills thus far and has surrounded himself with talented and energetic people who share his vision for changing the model for a successful candidacy, as well as changing how this country is run.
You guys seem to be posting a lot of blog entries for folks supposedly starting a vacation.

Regarding McCain... how about now? Are you ready to go yet?

This is a campaign that was mislabed as dead on arrival when it squandered all its cash last year, in an episode of mismanagement that makes the Clinton folks look like MBA professors. The McCain camp was given a second shot at life, only - only - because of two factors.

One is that most Republicans never warmed up to any other candidate for nomination, allowing McCain to sneak in by default.

Two is because New Hampshire loves mavericks and underdogs, though McCain has since flip flopped on the stuff that built that party maverick perception.

All that aside, he's had forever to figure out how to run a campaign... and he's still tinkering around with it?
It's going to get ugly...soon. The republicans are on the wrong side of the issues so they will attack character, lie, create false stories.  I just cannot imagine 4 more McSame years, like we have just had.  Throughout the primaries we have supported Barack. Now, more than ever it is time to turn the country in a new direction.  Away from the crazy Rush Limbaughs and those who are willing to corrupt the political process with lies and character attacks.  NOT THIS TIME. IT'S TIME TO TURN THE PAGE.  
Obama 08
When Pat Buchanen keeps saying, "Why isn't Obama further ahead" in the polls, I want to scream, "Why isn't McFossil since he had a 3 month advantage over Obama while the democrats where slugging it out in the primary?" I think it is very telling of McFosil's campaign that they STILL don't have an organized, efficient, effective campaign after all this lead time. Could it be the candidate, himself? Now there's a thought. The RNC puts up a 72 year war monger (that they don't even like) and wonder why he's doing so poorly? Pleeeze. I think ANY Republican running this year would have been in trouble thanks to Bush, Cheney and Rove, but at least give the people a DECENT candidate. This guy is a complete and utter joke. Oh yeah, he's a war hero.....it's been 15 seconds since they all reminded us of that fact.
McCain was a slacker at Annapolis, he graduated 894 out of 899 from the Naval Academy at Annapolis because he admittedly preferred strip clubs and bars to studying. This was your tax dollars at work.

He crashed a total of 5 planes during his flying career and he is considered to be the probable cause of the worst shipboard fire in Navy history on the USS Forrestal.  His incompetency killed 167 American sailors that day.  

McCain dumped his first wife because she gained weight after an almost fatal auto accident.  Then after he returned from Vietnam, he was constantly committing adultery, including with future wife Cindy, before he finally divorced his first wife.

He went to flight school because he was an admiral's son and bumped someone who earned the right to go.

Except for the fact that he actually went to Vietnam, he is just like Bush43 -- a poster child of nepotism.

Despite being promoted to Captain (probably because of daddy, the admiral) and his time as a POW, he was never given a command befitting that rank, once again, nepotism at work.

He's flipped on every issue that he used to have a firm position on, including the issue of torture. Ironic huh.

His judgement also includes being part of the S&L scandal (he was a member of the Keating Five, but Cindy's money got him out of that) and condoning the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry. Hypocrisy much!

We've already had one undeserving President that got everywhere because of his father, we don't need another.
We have all been involved in presidential campaigns in the past, but this campaign is special because of the unique honor of working for a candidate like John McCain -- a man who never surrenders.

**************************************

Translation: Vote for McCain for more blood, and more gridlock. No thank you.
McCan't is a clueless baffoon and it's beginning to become very transparent.

I wonder if he'll remember he went to latin america by Monday?
Wow - they had to give a pep talk about John McCain's service in a letter to his staff.

Sounds like internal problems to me - maybe they are not motived enough, because they know John McCain is going to lose anyway.

Senator Barack Obama will be the President of the United States - maybe if John McCain he can keep his dignity

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
McCain officials say the staff changes are because of a "lack of message".  Wouldn't it have been smart to develop a message before running for President?  Why is he in this if he doesn't have a message? ...just wondering.
well said A Charles, well said!
FR : where is the story on Mccain and his wife's back taxes how about break that news!!
We have all been involved in presidential campaigns in the past, but this campaign is special because of the unique honor of working for a candidate like John McCain -- a man who never surrenders.

Just think if McCain was the president of the confederacy during the Civil War the South would have been totally destroyed, and millions of men and women would have lost there lives.  This man does not know how to cut his losses and move on.

John McCain the Double Talk Express. Flip Flopper.


McCain the Straight Talk Express Re-Writes History on Social Security.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/12/204230/248/931/535022

McCain action helped Ariz. land developer
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-05-15-mccainland_N.htm


Non-Partisan Tax Center: McCain Plan Aids Wealthy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/12/non-partisan-tax-center-m_n_106765.html

We have all been involved in presidential campaigns in the past, but this campaign is special because of the unique honor of working for a candidate like John McCain -- a man who never surrenders.

Just think if McCain was the president of the confederacy during the Civil War the South would have been totally destroyed, and millions of men and women would have lost there lives.  This man does not know how to cut his losses and move on.

Further, if he was president during the Vietnam conflict we would still be fighting and a million more Americans would have died.
I can't wait until November when Obama is Prez,  McCain is a non issue, Bush is back in TX and this country can move forward from the stalemate that we ae in!!
PS as a St. Louisan we all around the country need to let the stockholders know that Anhieser-Busch is not for sale to some Belgium Brewery. Budweiser Beer is much to important to STL and the country. We need to launch a letter writting campaign to let them know we mean business and America is not for sale!!!
Did Obama or any of his surrogates make any news today?  Seems to be an overkill on McCain news today.  As a non-supporter of his, I read what he is up to because you need to know why you do or don't support someone, but I am feeling the cold shoulder today as an Obama supporter.  I thought FR said they were going on vacation and would only update really important news.  I don't get it!

Obama '08

I would also like to point out that so many people are expressing anger over what Obama has decided to do lately regarding his choices and stances in the GE.  Did you really expect to agree with him on every issue and point?  Isn't that something like perfection...something obviously he or no human being can be?  I never expected to agree with him on every issue, but what I do believe is that he has my best interest at heart overall as POTUS.  That is what matters most.  Just needed to get that off of my chest and hope my message is posted.
"John McCain--a man who never surrenders."

**********************

Not exactly the best qualification to tout for your leader.  Anyway, I don't think it's true.  He has "surrendered" his maverick status by giving up his fight for the little people and signing up with corporate interests.  Also, he keeps changing his mind about things, not just modifying a position.  For example, is he for drilling off-shore, which is an about-face from his position before? Or is he just pandering, trying to make us feel better about something that won't work?  

IMO, this is a war McCain has already lost. No need to surrender.
Wow.... they are sssoooooo late... It's going to get ugly before it's over.
GOP Pandering..
Look important so I don't have to talk about the real issues and look dumb....
Shows we have no chance of real change with McHide..

What ever happen to those debates?
Who cares about campaigning changes? McCain and Obama still need to get good VP's, and there is an online poll at http://www.votenic.com every week. See who America thinks should back up the candidates.
Political Director Goebbels and Field Director Rommel, please come to the Republican Convention.
"a man who never surrenders"

Like he never surrendered to the Bush tax cuts, the oil companies on off shore drilling and his own greed when he left a his ex. for Cindy
Molly: '...McCain is qualified to lead our country - obama is NOT...'

Molly, if McCain is 'qualified' to lead our country becuase of his VietName service.....

... thebn, so is Timothy McVeigh (the guy who bombed the Oklahoma City Federal building)

Would you support a McCain-McVeigh ticket ?
They're both 'qualified' to lead America !!

John McCain, More of the Same

John McCain, Endless War


What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas .....

'... a high-roller privilege McCain had indulged in before...'

a 'High-Roller' ??
Does Fredo Corleone have a hook in McCain ?


From Time:

'...Only recently have McCain's aides urged him to pull back from the pastime. In the heat of the GOP primary fight last spring, he announced on a visit to the Vegas Strip that he was going to the casino floor. When his aides stopped him, fearing a public relations disaster, McCain suggested that they ask the casino to take a craps table to a private room, a high-roller privilege McCain had indulged in before. His aides, with alarm bells ringing, refused again, according to two accounts of the discussion.

"He clearly knows that this is on the borderline of what is acceptable for him to be doing," says a Republican who has watched McCain play. "And he just sort of revels in it."...'

Life is a gamble
Especially if you vote fo McCain

John McCain, Endless War

John McCain, More of the Same

"The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line."
Lets face it McCain has the same chance of winning as Bob Dole did when he ran which is next to none,the Republicans knew they couldn't win so let Dole throw his hat in the ring and then retire when he got hammered, the same holds true for McCain after he's hammered in Nov. he also will retire and its the only reason McCain is the candidate for the Republicans...
Hey, MSNBC, what's with the headline "Obama opens door to shifting stance on Iraq"?  What kind of crap reporting is that?  Just because he said after he visits Iraq his timeline for withdrawal might be somewhat different, he is in NO WAY changing his position on this issue.  I think it shows good judgment and wisdom to take into account what the people on the ground in Iraq have to tell him.
  I used to like your reporting, now I'll just clump you in with all the other shoddy journalists  - I can see the effect of the loss of Tim Russert already.....soon you'll be just another FOX look alike......
Shuffle those deck chairs all you want...the good ship mcsame is still foundering...we don't want four more years of bush policies and incompetence and that is what mccain is offering up...
How can McCain be patriotic if he doesn't wear a flag pin and doesn't campaign on the 4th of July (America's Birthday) weekend?  How many other politicians are not working (attending events) this weekend?

Is it to much work for him to work more than 5 days a week?
Obama's strategy about troop withdrawal has not changed. While his target is to remove the troops within 16 months, he would adjust his timetable if ground conditions warrant it. Below are six instances where Obama has said this.

March 19, 2008 Obama’s Speech on Iraq:
Link
In order to end this war responsibly, I will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. We can responsibly remove 1 to 2 combat brigades each month. If we start with the number of brigades we have in Iraq today, we can remove all of them 16 months. ....Let me be clear: ending this war is not going to be easy. There will be dangers involved. We will have to make tactical adjustments, listening to our commanders on the ground, to ensure that our interests in a stable Iraq are met, and to make sure that our troops are secure.

February 4, 2008 Wolf Blitzer Interview with Barack Obama
Link

Feb. 25 2008 MSNBC Democratic Debate
Link

April 16, 2008 ABC Democratic Debate
Link

April 27, 2008 Chris Wallace interview with Barack Obama
Link
OBAMA: [on a hypothetical conversation he would have with Petreus] It is my strategic assessment that we have to provide a timetable to the Iraqi government. I want you to tell me how best to execute this new assignment and I am happy to listen to the tactical considerations and any ideas you have.

May 4, 2008 Barack Obama on Meet the Press
Link
MR. RUSSERT: The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, said that a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq could result in genocide. Would you factor that in? And if that began to emerge as an issue, would you stop the withdrawal?
SEN. OBAMA: Tim, I would--of course I would factor in the possibilities of genocide, and I factored it in when I said that I would begin a phased withdrawal. What we've talked about is a very deliberate and, and prudent approach to the withdrawal, one to two brigades per month. At that pace it would take about 16 months.....what we can't do is sustain a long-term occupation in Iraq and expect to be able to deal with the other threats that exist in that neighborhood.
Enter Bush-operative and Rove side-kick Steve Schmidt to run McCain's campaign...same ol', same ol' trying to get back to the White House for a third Bush term.
Why the need to re-organize.  The Senator's message is quite simple....war, war and more war with a sprinkling of manufacured issues. Hey, how many Republicans does it take to screw in a light bulb.


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