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Bush consultant meets with McCain about presidential bid(2008)
The Mercury News ^ | 6-7-05 | Robert Hillman

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....."

.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; 2008elections; cfr; enemyof1stammendment; mccain; mccain2008; traitor
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To: Gipper08

Did you see that lovely picture of Nancy Reagan laying flowers at RR's grave a year ago? Fox ran it yesterday. It brings back how much we lost when he died. The clips of RR, his speech at Normandy, he was a giant. America was so lucky to have him. Even now, the mention of his name illuminates his stature, what he accomplished in spite of the MSM. Mindboggling.


61 posted on 06/07/2005 6:25:56 AM PDT by hershey
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To: Alex Marko

Don't you care about moral values?????? Rudy is totally void of any!!!!!!!!!!


62 posted on 06/07/2005 6:26:57 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: mariabush

He might be in your opinion...however...what do you think of Hillary winning or for that matter any democrat?


63 posted on 06/07/2005 6:29:33 AM PDT by Alex Marko
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To: Mo1

"What makes him think we will trust him with our country?"

Bush


64 posted on 06/07/2005 6:29:45 AM PDT by Spirited
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To: Gipper08

Personally, at this stage, I like Allen first, a yet known charasmatic conservative second (governor or otherwise), Guiliani third. McCain - one notch higher than Hillary. If Pence is a viable candidate, he needs to get in front now, otherwise he will have too little name recognition and be unable to raise money. I have some roots in IN politics, and know Pense's name, but no very little else about him. If is might be President in three years, he needs to get moving.


65 posted on 06/07/2005 6:32:24 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: Mr. Jeeves

Although not even the most profound and compelling rhetoric could persuade me from voting against the anti-RKBA RINO McCain, I am intrigued by your inference that there is ANYTHING redeeming in his character. Taking your assertion about the Republican Party base in general at face value, please would you explain just what he has done that makes him appeal as you suggest: I am having trouble recalling any positive actions on his part that were more than an occasional towing of the party line.

As for Giuliani, he is a fascist JBT, who would go over like a ton of bricks in the heartland.


66 posted on 06/07/2005 6:32:45 AM PDT by dsmcf
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To: Alex Marko
Well there are no longer any moderate Democrats, so!!!!!!!!!!!
67 posted on 06/07/2005 6:32:55 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: Alex Marko

Won't happen!!!!!!!!


68 posted on 06/07/2005 6:34:04 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: alicewonders
If it were between McCain & Hillary, I would hold my nose & NOT VOTE.

My vote is too important a right to refuse to use it. To me witholding my vote does not the same power or message as voting for a candidate.

69 posted on 06/07/2005 6:34:43 AM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: Gipper08
Mike Pence from Indiana

Huh? Who the h*ll is that?

70 posted on 06/07/2005 6:35:20 AM PDT by Nonstatist
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To: finnman69

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!







71 posted on 06/07/2005 6:35:52 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: tnlibertarian
One thing the McCainiacs (and a lot of them are neocons) never take into account...how are the gals going to take to the candidate?

It's my contention that there is a significant number of Pub women who cannot stand this man.

He'll lose. I can write his losing story, too.

When McCain came back from Nam--he dumped his wife because she was overweight. This will kill McCain with women.

He did--among other things. His wife, who waited for him when he was a POW, looking after his kids...was not what he expected on his return. She'd had an accident, was injured and had gained weight.

So Mr. Noble, Mr. Hero dumped her for a younger blonde.

I tell you, this is death

That's not all. Younger Blonde has a rich daddy. Rich Daddy is a beer distributor. Rich Daddy takes the Mississippi Hero and makes him into and Arizona Senator.

Since that time, McCain's been Mean, Nasty and Crazy.

I won't be voting for Hillary. I won't be voting at all.

72 posted on 06/07/2005 6:36:09 AM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: dsmcf
As for Giuliani, he is a fascist JBT, who would go over like a ton of bricks in the heartland.

Fascist? Only LW loons call Giuliani a fascist. And he would do VERY well in the heartland.

oh, and BTW

dsmcf
Since Jun 6, 2005

welcome to FR

73 posted on 06/07/2005 6:37:19 AM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
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To: Mo1

I'm supporting George Allen for President and Condi Rice for Vice President. The only thing that would change my mind would be if Cheney decides to run, but that possibility seems remote.


74 posted on 06/07/2005 6:37:55 AM PDT by moose2004 (You Can Run But You Can't Hide!)
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To: Mamzelle

One of the things that I detest about McCain is that he waited four whole days before selling this country out to the VC.

My Husband had cyanide tablets in his flight suit and if ever captured would have taken them before begging for the enemy to help him.


75 posted on 06/07/2005 6:39:08 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: mariabush
This "dump the fat, crippled, faithful wife for a younger rich, skinny blonde..."

I say, it sounds trivial to the neocon girley-boy McCain jocksniffers (like Krauthammer, Lord Lindsey Graham, among others) , but McCain cannot win with this fat wife thing. It'll resonate and Hillary can play it up, too.

76 posted on 06/07/2005 6:44:13 AM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: dsmcf
Taking your assertion about the Republican Party base in general at face value, please would you explain just what he has done that makes him appeal as you suggest: I am having trouble recalling any positive actions on his part that were more than an occasional towing of the party line.

Easy - McCain is a "Certified Vietnam War Hero P.O.W.", and that gives him all the credibility he needs with the average Republicans who don't pay any attention to things like the "Nuclear Option" and the "Gang of Fourteen". In fact, most people simply stop considering other aspects of his character once they learn of his "Certified Vietnam War Hero P.O.W." status. That's what Kerry envied and tried to emulate during his Presidential campaign, figuring that if he could paint himself the same way, the public would overlook the rest of his foibles.

77 posted on 06/07/2005 6:45:38 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("Violence never settles anything." Genghis Khan, 1162-1227)
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To: Alex Marko

"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."

Who won by the biggest landslide victory in the last 30 years? Answer-Reagan a Stanch CONSERVATIVE.


78 posted on 06/07/2005 6:46:19 AM PDT by antisocial (Texas SCV - Deo Vindice)
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To: Mamzelle

He would be 73 in 2009.

Born August 29, 1936.

He missed his window, because of Dubya.

DK

He really did that to his first wife? Gads, after getting the nomination, if the MSM still has any clout, they would destroy him.


79 posted on 06/07/2005 6:47:34 AM PDT by Dark Knight
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Sigh. 2008: Vote for the bag of barf or the bag of poo?

Arrrrg!


80 posted on 06/07/2005 6:48:32 AM PDT by VictoryGal (Never give up, never surrender!)
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