Bush consultant meets with McCain about presidential bid(2008)

The Mercury News ^ | 6-7-05 | Robert Hillman

[Gipper08]

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Mark McKinnon, the Austin political consultant who oversaw the advertising for President Bush in the 2000 and 2004 campaigns, has committed to help Sen. John McCain in a second presidential bid.

McKinnon - one of the president's closest friends and confidants and a frequent mountain biking companion - met with the Arizona Republican over lunch this spring in the Senate dining room to discuss his support, said a GOP activist familiar with the meeting.

At this point, McCain, who lost to Bush in a bitter 2000 Republican primary, is in the early but unmistakable stages of laying the groundwork for another campaign. And McKinnon has indicated he would review his options, should Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, run in 2008.

The White House has sent word that Jeb Bush should be taken at his word, that he will not run. Rice, just four months into her new job, is not expected to seek the presidency, though some top Republicans have suggested she might be considered for vice president.

McKinnon, vice chairman of the Austin-based consulting firm Public Strategies Inc., said on Monday he's had "friendly conversations with Senator McCain" but would not discuss his commitment.

"I like the senator a lot, but it is too early to speculate on his intentions, as he has said himself, not to mention mine," McKinnon said in an e-mailed statement. "My political focus right now is on a successful second-term agenda for President Bush."

McCain's political strategist, John Weaver, said the senator is heartened by those "encouraging him to run," but that he has not yet decided whether he will.

"He's not out organizing," Weaver said, "and he's instructed us not to do that, either....."

.

[LADY J]

"I and many others WILL NOT vote for McCain'

Another NO vote for McCain here!!

[Mamzelle]

South Carolina knocked him down before. And do you remember how McCain reacted? Brrr. This guy is Howard Dean of the West.

We have Condi, Sanford maybe... Let's forget about the Senate, and find us some governors.

[Coldwater Creek]

He will not be the candidate. Point is moot!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mamzelle]

His hold on some GOP men can't be underestimated. McCain sets his jaw, looks POW-angry/pitiful, and really has 'em going. Especially Northeastern educated types who don't really know anybody in the service.

War records can't be counted on. Look at Bush the Elder and Bob Dole! And they were active heroes, not suffering victims...

What we need is a better field.

[GraniteStateConservative]

At least, when the *&% about McCain and his first wife finally hits the fan, do a focus group study on conservative women and their opinions of Mr. Noble. Keep in mind that women don't tend to keel over in a swoon over war records the way neocon men do.

Wishful thinking. People will say he got divorced and got remarried to a very nice woman. They don't care about the he said-she said stuff, because a lot of them have been divorced. And if his ex wife comes out to attack him, the story will be even more of a bust because no one likes airing dirty family laundry to the media. You can bookmark this thread. I promise you this will not be an issue in 2008.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If he runs, yes he will.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Agreed. McCain is very strong. FReepers trying to figure out his strength based on how FReepers feel about him are going to be in for a rude awakening.

[Mamzelle]

I can promise you that if a woman is a contender for the DNC nom--this will be an issue.

Are you saying women voters should be dismissed from consideration? Look how we've compromised our sovereignty just to get a few Hispanic votes. Such dismissiveness will cost.

By 2008, there'll be as many women in the GOP as there are men. Not all of them will hate McCain enough to vote against him, but how many does Hillary need? Look how close the elections will be.

At least, GOP leadership!!... do the studies before you indulge your girley-boy crush on this kook.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Speaking of Cindy McCain, she was 100% behind the Bush-Cheney ticket, traveling with Laura. I'm sure Bush is appreciative of that support by both McCain and Cindy and would crush that kind of attack on McCain, and, by extension, his wife.

[kabar]

Of course if hillary won their nomination, we could put up a horse and win.

Do you think Hillary would do better than Kerry? I do. Kerry was the most liberal senator from the most liberal state in the country. He was uncharismatic, had a phony war record, testified before Congress that his fellow veterans were war criminals, and was a member of a radical anti-war group that plotted the assassination of US officials. Added to that, he had a kooky wife who made him the wealthiest man ever to run for the Presidency.

Despite all of this, Kerry lost to a sitting wartime President presiding over a good economy with low unemployment by a mere 35 electoral votes.

Hillary will have more money, better name recognition, a more moderate voting record, and a superior political organization than Kerry. She will be the odds on favorite to win it all. We make a big mistake underestimating her.

[Mamzelle]

Oh, Blonde was as helpful as she could be. McCain has even made sorrowful noises about was a Heel he was.

You know, dumping a wife because she's fat and disabled...is that like dumping a guy because he has cancer? Just wondering. I sort of doubt that Bush has a lot of loyalty to McCain, or if he does, it's a perfunctory thing. Likely he'd even campaign for McCain. But, gee, it looks like New Hampshire is going to get drubbed by South Carolina again. But NH is a blue state, now. Why should we let it pick our GOP candidates?

[Coldwater Creek]

I agree, but it is very early.

[Coldwater Creek]

I respectively disagree.

[GraniteStateConservative]

By 2008, there'll be as many women in the GOP as there are men. Not all of them will hate McCain enough to vote against him, but how many does Hillary need? Look how close the elections will be.

"Not all of them will hate McCain enough..." That's hilarous. You act like it's common knowledge he's a rapist or something. You are talking about total speculation that McCain divorced his wife because she was fat. You don't realize how half-cocked a notion that is? There are thousands of reasons that couples split up that don't involve the woman getting fat. Women aren't going to buy such an obvious smear. They'll laugh at its ridiculousness and be angry at the candidate spreading it.

At least, GOP leadership!!... do the studies before you indulge your girley-boy crush on this kook.

Heh. I'm not even a McCain booster. My girley-boy crushes involve this guy and he's not going to be running in 2008 (unless you count around the bases in the 2008 World Series)...

[kabar]

Agreed. McCain is very strong. FReepers trying to figure out his strength based on how FReepers feel about him are going to be in for a rude awakening.

I think McCain is stronger as the GOP candidate for President than he will be in the primary. He only received one-third of the vote in the primaries against Bush.

That said, McCain was reelected in 2004 with almost 77% of the vote against Bush's 55% on the same ballot. McCain does have crossover appeal and at least based on the very early polls for 2008, he can beat Hillary.

[deport]

He will not be the candidate. Point is moot!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

Agreed that he will not be the candidate..... jmo. But never forget that he came within an eyelash of being the nominee in 2000 had it not been for SC and I think he'd be a strong contender if he chooses to seek the nomination. However just because he is the most known nationally today doesn't mean he'll be the leading candidate once the nominating process begins in earnest. I suspect there is someone out there much like Gov. Bush was back in 98/99 that wasn't nationally well known that may come forward and win the nomination. At least that is my hope.

Watch who the major Consultants line up with and you have to consider them as contenders.... In the end all but one will falter but the major consultants will go with the best shots as they see them. It is their occupation after all.

[Coldwater Creek]

We have very long memories!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mamzelle]

re: You are talking about total speculation that McCain divorced his wife because she was fat. You don't realize how half-cocked a notion that is?)))

You know, the intellectual neocons went to great Canadian and Ivy schools and they're so gosh-darn smart. They wanted McCain. Those stupid southern rednecks managed to thwart them, so how smart are they? I guess they know women better than I, too. So much so that it looks like they're not even going to do a few poll tests.

McCain got off the plane and was shocked at the changed appearance of his wife. I watched the previews of his "movie" and heard the character say, "I just want to go home to my wife." LOL! Just wait until Hillary gets ahold of that one.

The NE libs want the GOP to nominate McCain. You assume that means that Dems will vote for him. They won't. They are hedging their bets--and they'll enjoy smearing the heck out of McCain in vengeance for Monica.

I don't think you have been paying attention to McCain these past few years. He spouts off in ugly ways all the time. The first unkind word about Hillary's posterior coming from the GOP will make my point.

[Gipper08]

Mike Pence is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee and is the leader of the conservative movement.

http://www.yuricareport.com/Medicare/MedicareBillArmTwistingTactics.html
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2428
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=2542
http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/031705/gop.html

[JohnnyZ]

If we dont nominate a moderate in 08, the GOP will lose the white house

Polly wanna cracker?

Polly wanna cracker?

Polly wanna cracker?

Polly wanna cracker?

Polly wanna cracker?

Polly wanna cracker?

Polly wanna cracker?