Opinion: Still more bad news for John McCain
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Following the shakeup this week of John McCain’s presidential campaign team and in recognition of his candidacy’s precarious finanical status, the best way to rekindle his White House hopes seemed clear: set aside a national effort and focus intensely on Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, key early-voting states in the nomination process. Well, so much for the Iowa part of that plan, at least for now.
The Associated Press reports that two strategists working for him in the Hawkeye State are saying adios to the Arizona senator. The pair --- Ed Failor Jr. and Karen Slifka --- were closely linked to former national campaign manager Terry Nelson, who was among the top aides who left McCain’s side Tuesday, so their departures aren’t a surprise. Still, it’s a blow to an already reeling campaign because McCain needs all the help he can get in Iowa.
He skipped actively campaigning there for the 2000 caucuses to make a big splash in the New Hampshire primary (which he did), so he couldn’t count on any residual support in Iowa. The loss of Failor is particularly painful in that regard because he has strong ties to the state’s GOP rank-and-file.
Speaking of residual support, McCain may get a good idea how much he has left in New Hampshire Friday when he delivers a speech there on Iraq and Islamic extremists. It’s his first major campaign appearance since his subpar fundraising report for April, May and June spurred the staff reshuffling. And no doubt those still on the McCain payroll are doing their best to surround the event with a patina of enthusiasm. But it’s precisely in New Hampshire where McCain’s stalwart backing of the Bush administration’s latest efforts in Iraq is an especially hard sell.
Independents are a significant political bloc in New Hampshire, and they propelled his 2000 primary win over George W. Bush. But the vast bulk of these independents, like their ilk throughout New England, made clear with the votes they cast in the 2006 midterm elections that they deeply oppose the Iraq war.
Certainly, McCain’s decision to give this particular speech in this particular state is an example of his maverick persona (and, some may argue, bullheadedness).
In the how-can-the-news-get-worse category for McCain, today’s AP story also reports that a co-chair of his Florida campaign --- state Rep. Bob Allen --- was arrested Wednesday after offering to perform oral sex for $20 on an undercover male police officer in Titusville.
Rudy Giuliani’s campaign, of course, can relate to problems caused by supporters.
--- Don Frederick