McCain: We love these dueling headers
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 9:13 AM by Mark Murray
In the Washington Post, Brent Bozell writes under the header: "McCain's Problem Isn't the GOP." "Is McCain running a ‘limping, message free’ presidential campaign? On a couple of issues (most notably Iraq), that analysis is incorrect. But on too may fronts, it's an accurate assessment. As I argued in The Post in March, McCain cannot win in November unless he has his conservative base energetically working for his election."
And in the Wall Street Journal, William McGurn argues under the header: "McCain's Problem Isn't Bush." More: "Mr. McCain seems intent on reassuring skeptics that he's no George W. Bush. If he loses in November, he'll prove it."
(So what is McCain's problem? Neither candidate is arguing that McCain's problem is with the moderate middle... We're guessing others would ask that, too.)
McCain appeared at the 68th annual Sturgis Rally in Sturgis, SD last night for a short rally, NBC/NJ’s Adam Aigner-Treworgy reports. During his brief remarks, he joked about Obama's recent trip to Berlin, saying that he preferred the sound of Harleys to excited Berliners. And he once again called on Congress to reconvene and vote on offshore drilling. Cindy McCain also spoke briefly about being the mother of two active-duty military and called her husband the "only man that can keep us free."
The rally was held at the historic Buffalo Chip campground and concert venue, where thousands of bikers were gathered to drink and see Kid Rock perform later in the evening. This is the place where they don't cheer; they rev their engines instead. There is another stage that is also part of the festival, where KISS performed and where they were holding preliminaries for the Ms. Buffalo Chip beauty pageant -- an often-nude affair.
That information is relevant, Aigner-Treworgy adds, as McCain joked during his remarks that he had encouraged Cindy to participate, so she had a chance at being the only lady to serve as both first lady and Ms. Buffalo Chip.
The Los Angeles Times: “Rather than applause, McCain was greeted again and again by the full-throated roar of scores of gleaming Harley-Davidsons of every shape and color. The stench of burning gasoline and rowdy shouts filled the prairie night air. It was almost as if McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was a celebrity -- a dirty word in his lexicon since his campaign last week ran ads mocking rival Barack Obama for his celebrity status, comparing him to Britney Spears."
