Posted on 06/07/2005 5:22:03 AM PDT by 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....."
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(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
When has a moderate ever won nationally for the GOP? Even Bush (41) wond big because people were expecting a third term of Reagan (stay the course).
Mike Pence in 2008
That is utter bs. The Clintons did as little as possible for Kerry, and a weak candidate he was. A strong candidate energizes the hopes of a political party after its been thru the ringer with a weak one. Hillary is riding that wave now on the DNC side and Jeb will also if the GOP picks someone to the right of GW. that will get crushed in 08.
You will not be wasting your time.Pence will never let you down.
If you are right, then we will have
88 Bush
92 Clinton
96 Clinton
00 Bush
04 Bush
08 Clinton
12 Bush or Clinton
What are we, a 2 party monarchy?!
Stop the Insanity!!
Stop the Yalies!!
I LOVE Phil Crane but he is no Mike Pence. Pence is the real deal in his private life and practices what he preaches. He is one of the most humble men I have ever met.
The decision from hell - Cheese Drawers gets the Demo ticket and Sell My Vote McCain is the Republican nominee. I'd probably stay home.
Pence is a waste of time. He has no chance.
This RINO won't get my vote.
With all do respect you don't think any conservative has a chance. You want Giuliani to win.
More like his mind..........
I really don't know.
(Mike Pence needs more press.) McCain doesn't seem to understand how many republicans he's alienated. This last maneuver of his, undercutting the President on judicial nominees is just the latest act of treachery. The MSM will enjoy promoting his candidacy and then cutting him to pieces. They'd like to fix the election, so the GOP would nominate someone unable to defeat Hill, and the way to do that is control the primaries and smear anyone of substance.
Between those two, give me the crook. At least you know the crook's motivation and can predict their actions. You would also have a congress working against the crook instead of supporting the nut.
No, not really. No conservative to the right of GW stands a chance vs a moderate democrat in 08. Mark my words... Whichever party nominates a moderate in 08 will win the white house.
F*ck McCain. I wouldn't trust that son-of-a-bitch with milk money, much less an entire country. He's turned face so many times his head resembles a gyroscope.
Bush must think that they are too conservaive. Perhaps he promised McCain help in return for his backing a la Specter.
Looks as though the fix is in we get a choice of two flaming liberals...Clinton--McCain.
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