The secret hidden within John McCain's campaign schedule

You can tell a lot about any political campaign by how it invests its most precious resource: the 1,440 minutes in each candidate's day.

UPDATE: An earlier version of this item had an hour-by-hour schedule that was provided to the media for planning purposes and not intended for publication. But even if you examine the broad current schedule for John McCain's campaign, you'll still notice something very revealing:

Yesterday morning the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party flew from Omaha to Kansas City, Mo., for a town hall meeting at Union Station in late morning, and a series of local media interviews, of course, and he left Kansas City right after lunch for -- where else? -- Muskegon, Mich.

No, really. Muskegon, Mich.

At dinnertime he arrived near there in Ferrysburg, Mich., for a 105-minute fundraiser before flying to Detroit to sleep.

Today, he'll visit a General Motors technical center there for a tour and another town hall meeting with employees to be captured for eternity on camera, more local media interviews, of course, and a lunchtime fundraiser before flying out to New York to do another media interview.

And then comes the day's publicity moment, the Big Event, the taping of a priceless national TV interview for "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," the next Jay Leno, if there can be such a thing. An opportunity to be good-natured for a lot of younger voters.

Tomorrow, in New York City, McCain will do more media interviews before ...

... attending the real reason for getting up on a summer Saturday, two more fundraisers on Long Island, N.Y.

He'll sleep then in yet another hotel room and move on to somewhere else for, you'll never guess, more local media interviews with the same familiar sets of questions (his VP pick, Iraq, the economy), which he'll professionally act like he never heard before and answer with practiced straight-talk sincerity.

It's a mind-deadening grind for all involved, though all that the mildly attentive July world will see and possibly process for maybe voting on Nov. 4 are snippets of his answers on TV somewhere while it munches chips or veggies.

So what to make of McCain's oh-so-familiar routine?

Yes, good point, he does seem to be hopscotching all over. His campaign days sure don't start at dawn with morning shows. And there are the ubiquitous media interviews, as always.

They're free, after all. And though he can speak to 200 potential voters at a town hall, he can more efficiently reach hundreds of thousands through film of that session and media interviews afterward with slightly-starry-eyed local reporters, some of whom will secretively ask for autographs despite their outward objectivity.

Give you a hint. Follow the money.

Just 3 1/2 months out from the presidential election, McCain's national campaign schedule is being driven by the quest for money, not by the hunt for votes in 50 individual state elections. All right, every campaign says it's gonna compete everywhere. But they don't.

He's always looking for votes wherever he goes. But wherever he goes is determined not by potential votes but by where his finance folks have found enough donate-able money to set up fundraisers.

For McCain for now his itinerary is built on the quest for dollar$, not votes. That helps explain the widespread sense of unease among many Republicans nationally who do not deny he's working very hard.

But they fear he wasted his three-month general election head start not defining himself and not driving home the all-important central message of why he wants to be president.

Do you know what McCain's central message is? Do you know what his opponent's central theme is? See the difference?

Some still don't detect a national McCain strategy laid out with consistent unfolding messages drawing the portrait in voters' minds of the next commander in chief, day by day and event by event. One reason behind the recent campaign management shake-up.

The Arizonan, who's never much liked fundraising (which helps explain McCain-Feingold) and never built the kind of national donor network of Mitt Romney, George W. Bush or Hillary Clinton, sure didn't invest 175 minutes of precious candidate time going to Muskegon, driving and standing around talking and shaking hands and being photographed there because of a mother lode of votes to be had in nearby Ferrysburg.

Unlike last year, McCain is working hard to raise money now, and his schedulers fill in the blanks with interviews and other events to attract free media coverage wherever they happen to be.

The last two months he's raised $22 million each, about $734,000 a day. That's good for McCain, especially when the Republican National Committee is raising even more funds separately to benefit his campaign.

McCain's national campaign staff is slightly less than half the size of the 800-plus-person behemoth behind Barack Obama who, some estimate, is burning through more than $40 million a month. That takes some of the shine off the $52 million he reported raising in June.

And remember, Obama's money, while seemingly plentiful every month, must last through to election day. McCain's need only endure until the Republican convention Sept. 1-4, when his $82 million in federal funding gets delivered.

Still, the Republican candidate, of all people, devoting so much time to scrounging money instead of votes this close to Nov. 4, is an ominous sign in the eyes of many professional strategists.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photos: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[festinog]

It's an interesting piece but it would have helped the authors claim had he posted Obama's schedule for the same period as a comparison.

And I'm a whole hearted Obama supporter.

[Alaska Fisherman]

I'm curious how McCain's schedule compares against Obama. Can you publish Obama's as well so we can see how much time he is devoting to fundraising. Only then can we make an accurate conclusion that McCain is being driven by fundraising.

[AGatheringofEagles]

Why do you guys HATE America? Why always looking for a reason to heap hate on the Real American candidate? You guys islamofascists or something?

[ericmiami]

McCain is not a lot smarter than the people voting for him. I think that is the attraction.

[Jeanette Doney]

When did McCain find the time to send republicans free bumper stickers asking for donations? I'm not removing my Ron Paul bumper stickers. I paid $5.00 each for those beauties. I would have paid more. Well, I'll open a bottle of Jones campaign soda with Ron Paul's picture and toast to having something McCain won't ever get: MY VOTE or money. Have a good day!

[Juan McCain]

Andrew -

You must be another media foot soldier for Obama camp. Tisk tisk. Then again there are no REAL reporters, instead just minions who do as they are told.

[Daneru Melodie]

"Do you know why? Do you know why his opponent is running? See the difference?"

No. Every person ever running for President does it because they perceive it as the most powerful position in the world. They run because they want the power. They want to control the agenda, the ideas, and the direction we head as a nation. It's true of John McCain and it's true of Barack Obama. To suggest differently is a bit inane.

[Jerry]

This is so stupid, sure he needs the money, he has to have the money to counter Obama who has spent over 254 million just to get the nomination. He spends his days doing identically the same thing chasing the buck. So quit making it seem so one sided. 22 million vs 52 million it does not take a brain surgeon to understand who is trying to buy the election.

[Douglas]

You're right. I don't really know why John McCain is running for president. But, since you asked, I don't really know why Barack Obama is running either. That's what campaigns are supposed to be about but they have become something else. Campaigns are now about pretending the reasons for the candidate's desire for the oval office is the same as what the public wants. In the primaries, the candidate says what his campaign strategists tell him will get the most votes from the largest and most active factions of his party. Once he gets past that, he shifts to saying what his advisers tell him is what most of the general public wants to hear without, hopefully, alienating his base. So, when we distill it all down, we can pretty figure the candidate's reason for running for president is what? Who knows? No one provides a real vision for America, they're afraid to, afraid it will cost votes to be honest and straightforward. What a mess.

[Aleks]

Barack Obama who, some estimate, is burning through more than $40 million per month. That takes some of the shine off the $52 million he reported raising in June.
********************************

That depends on what he's spending it on. If he's spending huge amounts of money just to raise slightly huger amounts of money, that's a bad sign. If he's spending it to build infrastructure and implement the electoral game plan, isn't that the point of raising it in the first place?

[Pat Powell]

I am most disappointed in your lack of balanced reporting and an obvious 'slant' towards the B. Hussein Obama campaign...see...the other side can slant things as well if we choose although at least that is fact - isn't it?

There is no 'secret' agenda in McCain's schedule other than he is pounding the pavement to get votes and money, both of which are a necessity to win an election as anyone knows...what is it you are attempting to imply?

As far as the issues are concerned...spin all you like...the truth is Obama is clearly running a machine based on little or no basis/foundation. What ARE his positions on anything other than to express a desire for 'change', or to 'motivate'. I frankly am frightened of just what those 'changes' may be for the majority of Americans and I know I am not alone. McCain, while not perfect, as no one is, is expressing concerns for issues most Americans are concerned about. He is a known vs. the extreme unknown.

A few months ago I thought the Dems had a sure win this November. Not so sure anymore and your article articulates this I believe, quite nicely. I think you all are running scared that we may just pull it off! I sure hope so for the true benefit of all...even my friends on the other side. We shall see.

[Bill Lewis]

Wouldn't you think it might speak volumes if the candidates toured the country in a "fuel-freindly" manner. Instead of hop-scotching and backtracking all over, make a sweep from east to west or north to south.

I see McCain has his "Straight Talk Express" bus - but that appears to be more for show; I'm pretty sure he flies between venues and lets the bus catch up later.

[N Wrinn]

I beg to differ, it'd Obama that I don't know and understand. Or maybe I do know him, but his ideals and platform scare me. I believe he would further derail our economy and put our nation at risk. As a nation, how could we put our faith and trust in a less than one term Senator? Lack of experience is very unnerving.

[cic]

campaign money is a waste. why not spend that money feeding the homeless instead.

[Certified Southern Fried]

Campaigns mirror individuals. John McCain is fiscally conservative, and in these times, we desperately need that. It comes with experience and discipline.

[JN]

Ooooo, real big secret there. That's great journalistic work there, Sparky.

[Jim S.]

"McCain's national campaign staff is slightly less than half the size of the 800+-person behemoth behind Barack Obama who, some estimate, is burning through more than $40 million per month. That takes some of the shine off the $52 million he reported raising in June.

And remember, Obama's money, while seemingly plentiful every month, must last through to election day. McCain's need only endure until the Republican convention Sept. 1-4, when his $82 million in federal funding gets delivered."

Was the article not partisan enough for you up until this point?

a) Of the $52 million Obama raised in June, $50 million is earmarked for the primary season, meaning he MUST spend it before the convention. So, actually, despite the very clear words you type, that money does NOT need to last until election day. The money he's going to raise between now and then will be what's spent until election day.

b) What kind of spin take a month where the budget surplus was $12 million (this is raised minus spent). $12 million extra in June. This is 1/7 of McCain's general election money. How is this taking the shine (I'd have said luster, but you may not understand why) off?

c) It's a shame that someone given the voice to write for a newspaper in this day and age can't just stick to *gasp* reporting news.

[The Elector of Saxony]

Gee, I wonder why, in a story about fundraising your article fails to mention that both cadidates pledged to accept federal funds, but only one of them kept that promise. Hmmmm, which one broke their promise? I can't tell from the story about campaign finance and fundraising here in the pages of the LA Times. Oh! Now I remember! The Times is nothing more than one of the media arms of the Obama campaign! Wonder why your circulation is dead and you have to lay off your so called "journalists"? Ha!

[Hitobito]

John McCain appears to be out of sync with the majority of Americans. His healthcare plan will do nothing to make healthcare available to 50 million Americans without healthcare coverage. His votes against veterans benefits is shameful particularly since he has had government funded medical coverage all of his life. The number of lobbyists on his campaign staff is troubling.

[DaveP.]

Maybe someone should tell The Great Maverick that when he tells the base of his party tha he neither wants nor needs their votes, they aren't likely to send him money.
Or maybe he should go dun his largest group of supporters- the New York Times editorial desk (though they won't give him any: he's running against a Democrat, now).
Or maybe he should ask all the poor "Children of God" who entered this country illegally, whom he wants to make citizens even if he has to destroy the United States to do so, to donate to him.
Or maybe he should ask George Soros for more money.

[No sense]

Well, Mccain's strategy dont make any sense to start wit, so nobody is really fond of going to a Mccain conference, so only thing he can do to get out there is the media.....so SAD.....

[J]

At least McCain is busy doing town halls than filling up big arenas like Obama. Obama is cranking in the money, and there will be plenty of favors to pay when it's over. I'd rather vote for the guy who doesn't like fundraising and is jumping around trying to do his best to get money and voters than the "rock star" who is rolling in the money.

[Stephen Kriz]

John McCain is going to get annihilated in November. He is toast.

[Eiric V]

"McCain's national campaign staff is slightly less than half the size of the 800+-person behemoth behind Barack Obama who, some estimate, is burning through more than $40 million per month. That takes some of the shine off the $52 million he reported raising in June."

Some estimate? Who are the "some"? Are they the same ones who said Obama raised 30 million in June before his campaign announced he raised 52 million? I understand the desire of the LA Times to protect its sources, but come on. To print something like that, you need to find someone willing to have their name in the paper to go with it. That would be journalism.

I don't think the staff of the LA Times would like it if I said that some say the LA Times will be closing by the end of the week. They'd want to know who said that...was it the group of homeless people down the street or the publisher and his (or her) business associates? Attribution for a statement like that MATTERS. Please practice better journalism.

[Mandelay]

Your point is well taken but there's more. In the three days you've sampled, he also has two town hall meetings. He seems to take a more intimate approach to seeking votes and seeking financial support (3 finance events) as well as maintaining access with the press (3 media interview sessions). Sounds like he's a "look me in the eyes" guy. And are his finance events still open to the press? I had heard they were. His preference for the town hall format indicates to me that he's ready to be put on the spot by any questioner and that people have access to him to share ideas and critique as well as support. He's also sought out audiences that are not friendly. His personal approach sounds good to me, even if he doesn't have all the money in the world.