Some McCain camp insights...

Posted: Sunday, August 24, 2008 11:59 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Kelly O'Donnell

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Reporting on the road with the McCain campaign...

The "Biden" ad: Advisors say that spot has been ready for "a couple days." The McCain team says they assessed that Kaine "utterly disqualified himself" on the basis of the experience question and asserted that Obama does not particularly like Evan Bayh. "Who did that leave?" So they had the Biden spot ready to go.

"Passed Over" ad: McCain advisors say they assesd the 3 a.m. Obama text as an "avoidable" slight to Sen. Clinton and a belated elbow for the primary season 3 a.m. call spot. As First Read mentioned in First Thoughts, the campaign featured Hillary Clinton's words as an attack on Obama in the latest "Passed Over" ad.

Reaction to Biden selection: McCain advisors say Biden's career has not been covered in the Pennsylvania media market. They acknowledge his Scranton, blue-collar roots, but suggest Delaware, with a very small media market, does not have the kind of bleed over seen in New Jersey where NY politicians/issues are saturated. Biden "will fire up conservatives," they claim, because of his positions and conduct on the Judiciary Committee. "That gives us license there," advisors say. Think Roberts, Alito and Clarence Thomas.

The JUDGMENT question: McCain advisors say Obama has waged his candidacy on his "superior judgment" and they point out that Biden supported the Iraq war vote, then advocated partitioning of Iraq which McCain folks call "a terrible idea." Obviously, they will press on the readiness factor, saying Biden has "strongly and consistently" criticized Obama's readiness to be president while Biden "spoke glowingly about McCain on a number of issues."

McCain folks will, of course, repeatedly hammer at the notion the Biden pick "undermines the change message." Biden and Obama also differed on some foreign policy issues and advisors point to Biden's criticism of Obama on the issue of sitting down with rogue leaders in the first year of a term in office.

The ABORTION issue: Advisors ask, "What happens to pro-choice Catholics in politics?" They face criticism from Church officials and related groups, they said.

ATTACK DOG ROLE: McCain advisors' assessment is that Biden "doesn't wear well" in attack mode, adding ,"There is no way he's not gonna make mistakes of a big nature."

THE HOW MANY HOUSES? ISSUE: Advisors have gone silent on Romney and other short listers. On the wealth factor... McCain advisors say the senator's response in the Politico interview was "in artful." They knock its potency by saying that voters "hate class warfare" and that "McCain doesn't come across as an elitist."

Advisors say if Obama gets "nastier" on that issue that opens the door for them. Advisors say the "Rezko deal stinks to the high heavens." They will be prepared to show McCain's "home" in Hanoi by using images of his cell. They claim they have not overused the POW element and insist they have "underused it." They say Americans think most people in presidential politics are wealthy and will point out that Obama "made himself a multi-millionaire after he entered public life."

They suggest McCain should have responded, as he has before, that he is proud of Cindy's family and grateful for their success and blessings. That they have four homes, including his work week residence in the DC area, they claim. The others, advisors say, should be described as Cindy providing for other family members -- an elderly aunt, a daughter, etc., live in property she owns.

STATE OF THE RACE: Advisors say, "I'll take it." when describing the tightening of poll numbers. They call the ABC poll with them down six an outlier -- though most polls showed about that margin a month ago. They are most pleased on their move on economic issues and suggest Obama won't be able to catch McCain on the national security polling. They assert Obama's unfavorables have risen while "ours have not" -- though that assemssment does not hold up in the most recent NBC/WSJ poll.

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Comments

McCain's candidacy: a noun, a verb, and POW

amy,seattle, wa (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:04 PM)

Copy of Letter sent to McCain Headquarters
Date: 8-25-08

Dear Senator McCain, Would you please run a poll on how many of us Hillary Suppporters are now backing you ! From our email grps, call network, and meetings we estimate close to 10-12 million. These are fresh numbers coming after obama stabbed us in the back the other night. We are going to be recruiting more of her supporters, but some are giving up and are willing to ruled by this Huessin and his lies.
Please contact us and let us help you defeat Huessin Obama.

Sincerely,
Americans against Obama

AAO ! (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:06 PM)

a noun, a verb and a POW.

josh (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:06 PM)

Will this pathetic man try to give some FACTUAL information regarding what he stands for....not some 2 or 3 line soundbite and useless attack at the competition. It is obvious the voting public is much smarter than what they give us credit for.

Matt from Sheboygan, WI (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:08 PM)

Obama's become a multi-millionaire since entering public life? They're kidding, right? Well, considering that virtually all of Obama's adult life has been spent in the public sector, that's true. But the man only jumped into the bracket in the last four years - and he's 47!!!

This is almost as rich - no pun intended, honestly! - as Tucker Bounds yesterday (on MSNBC?) repeatedly referring to Obama as the "biggest celebrity in the world." Come on!!! Bigger than Oprah? Bigger than Madonna? I don't think so!!!

Judy, Chicago, IL (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:10 PM)

If McCain is going to live in the past and use his POW time as a crutch every time his makes a gaffe, or someone whispers in his ear..

Mr. Straight as he likes to call himself needs to "Sign a form to "Release his Military Records!!!

I want someone to ask him if he will Release his Military Records!!!

angie (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:13 PM)

So the McCain camp wants to continue pressing the negative. What a surprise. I can't speak for everyone but their constant negative adds are becoming predictable and annoying to me. If all you do is attack and never present anything positive about your own positions it gets to be a turn off after awhile.

I do think Obama has stayed way more positive and substantive in his advertising. I feel I know alot more about his tax plan, the direction he wants to go with energy, health care and eduction than I do about McCain. All I see from McCain are snarky attacks.

Average Viewer (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:13 PM)

Who can show me any stories where the sycophantic Ms. O'Donnell (check out her lightweight White House press Corps work fawning over Bush and absolutely avoiding embarrassing HIM at all costs) asks any meaningful and potentially difficult questions of McCain? It's ALL slant, and it gets really boring. On the POW issue, Obama should get some POW's in an ad questioning how THAT specific and obviously wrenching experience somehow makes one automatically ready for an entirely different job of POTUS. I've known a POW and a torture survivor. Good people, and laughably unfit for the job of President (they'd be the first to agree).

DD, Evanston, IL (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:19 PM)

Frank Rich speaks the truth:
What Obama also should have learned by now is that the press is not his friend. Of course, he gets more ink and airtime than McCain; he’s sexier news. But as George Mason University’s Center for Media and Public Affairs documented in its study of six weeks of TV news reports this summer, Obama’s coverage was 28 percent positive, 72 percent negative. (For McCain, the split was 43/57.) Even McCain’s most blatant confusions, memory lapses and outright lies still barely cause a ripple, whether he’s railing against a piece of pork he in fact voted for, as he did at the Saddleback Church pseudodebate last weekend, or falsifying crucial details of his marital history in his memoirs, as The Los Angeles Times uncovered in court records last month.

james (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:22 PM)

POW, POW, POW

anonymous (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:22 PM)

It's Kelly O'Donnell, McCain's cheif media strategist.

People can understand a man being too rich to forget how many assets he own when most Americans are losing their wealth. Does "LET THEM EAT CAKE!" remind you of anything?

Rezko doesn't work because it's too complicated like Whitewater. NO ONE in America understands the Whitewater case in America. EVERYONE understood the Lewinsky scandal. Speaking of Lewinsky, EVERYONE in America can understand John McCain cheating on his wife for a younger rich woman after his wife was in a car accident.

Mister Anderson (The Matrix) (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:24 PM)

Why doesn't Hillary come out and condemn this "Passed Over" ad? She says she's doing more than anyone else to support Obama, yet she doesn't put a stop to this Republican line of attack. She should say that her supporters should be offended by this ad, suggesting that they go against all of their core beliefs and vote for McCain, just because they are angry she isn't on the Democratic ticket. Isn't Hillary offended by this ad, or does she secretly enjoy the attention?

Beth, Charlotte, NC (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:26 PM)

It gets old seeing the same old establishment (McCain being the current holder of that designation) shilling and refusal to ask difficult questions we've seen for years in O'Donnell's W.H. Press Corps. Yawn. The mainstream press REALLY needs new blood with minds of their own. We can always hope....

DD, Chicago, IL (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:26 PM)

This is shameful. John McCain is disgracing veterans everywhere by using his status as a POW to deflect questions about his political career. This man is acting as though he is entitled to our votes simply on that basis. That suggests John McCain is a man of extremely low character.

Patriot (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:40 PM)

3 am ring...ring...ring hello, sir there is a crises and we need a decision...uh..uh..i...uh...i..my staff will get back to you my friend...zzzzz

thats a fact jack (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:43 PM)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aPfbo69bmO3g&refer=home

Obama UP and McCain down - why don't you MSNBC pundits HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE about McCAIN and HIS LIES instead of WHY OBAMA hasn't given you a show for a change.

John McCain is an out of touch babbling LIAR. He can't remember ANYTHING that isn't told to him right before he says it. MSNBC NEVER calls him on his DAILY LIES and MISSTATEMENTS. Do your jobs for a change and REPORT what McCain IS NOW instead of KISSING UP to his POW CARD.

Frannie (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:45 PM)

Since I can remember, the Republicans have been helpfully warning Democrats and citizens at large about the dangers of invoking "class warfare", as the McCain campaign has done again.

This, of course, means "Don't remind the people that we constantly expolit the less fortunate, or we'll tell everyone that you're a dread Socialist!"

Funny thing is, that whole mantra doesn't work so well, when the economy is tanking, and Phil Gramm is telling you you're whining.

History notes that when the Great Depression seemed interminable, both Communism and Socialism were being looked-at favorably, by a working class that couldn't find work anymore.

It was only after FDR saved capitalism by throwing a bone to the starving, in the form of a New Deal (and he's still vilified by the GOP ruling class, for doing this) that it became cool again for the working class to bash Socialists and Communists... and, by extension, populists. A clear case of "I've got mine..!"

Let's hope the Obama organization is not the latest in a long list of Democratic presidential campaigns, that has timidly run like hell from a populist message, punked into doing so by a GOP that threatens to label them with the "class warfare" smear. This time around, saying, "Yeah, it sure is, and YOU started it!" shows a lot of potential. Losing that bludgeon will be the Republicans' (and DC bi-partisan corporatists') worst nightmare.

Fine. When they refuse to take care of America's own, the way the wealthy FDR even did, then you know what? They've earned it.

Barry Champlain (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 2:48 PM)

Now who will McCain Pick? They have shot their self in the foot when it comes to Romney. McCain released attack ads on the Biden Pick because Biden said some things negitve toward Obama during the primary.

Romney called McCain dishonest during the Primary, and more.

Huckabee came in second during the Primary not Romney. This won't go over well with the Christian Base.

Romney and McCain would be the Super Rich ticket - In a middle Class Election.

Biden will win working class Votes, Romney will remind the working class he is the guy that lays you off.

Biden will be filmed going to church every Sunday, Romney will be filmed going to a Mormon church, making the base of the GOP more than Uncomfortable.

So who should McCain pick??

Huckabee would energize the Base.

Huckabee is veiwed as Middle class, winning overwhelming working class voters.

Huckabee didn't attack McCain during the primary.

Huckabee can hold his own with anyone in debates.

Huckabee has 1 house

Huckabee is the most logical, despite what the bloggers that are on Romney's payroll say. By the way, the radio host of Republican talk radio
they are on the Romney payroll too. Romney should learn he can't buy an election. He outspent every candidate during the primaries, even outspending Huckabee 6 to 1. Huckabee still got more delegates.

http://www.HotPres.com McCain Dui? http://www.duihlepguide.com

Janet, Seattle, Wash (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:19 PM)

McCain has become what he hated the most in 2000; a liar, a cheat and a slanderer. ALL the people I know that were pro McCain in 2000 (myself included) will not be voting for the bush clone in 2008.

How very disappointing to see this guy stoop this low, which I guess is what he has to do since no one will be voting for him, just against the other candidate. As bush did in 2000 and 2004, the election was about the other guy, not him. Because if it was about him, he wouldn't have come close to winning, slander the other guy, win at any cost, even if the cost is your own soul. McCain you are pathetic!

judesuper (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:23 PM)

If the McCain camp thinks the Rezko deal stinks to the high heavens, it might be interesting to note... No matter what the GOP says about Rezko (which by the way there were no convictions on Obama’s part). This is huge-- Well, there are many more skeletons in McCain’s crypt that will rattle McCain’s absent mind. Start with real truth of the Keating 5, for instance.
Absentminded/lying McCain (possibly undiagnosed Alzheimer’ candidate is always omitting facts with his negative ads They will be prepared to show McCain's "home" in Hanoi by using images of his cell. But, for the umpteenth time we know that, we appreciate that and respect that.
Being a POW doesn’t mandate CIC there’s a real lack of enthusiasm for him personally due to his possibly undiagnosed Alzheimer. The FEAR CARD won’t work. Biden will smack the feeble- minded McCain down.

Acceptance is apathy!

Obama/ Biden 08/12
Nobody, but Obama

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:26 PM)

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